Download the development of a mouse mutant for studying the role of nkg2d in

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOUSE MUTANT FOR STUDYING THE ROLE OF NKG2D
IN VIVO
B. ZAFIROVA, R. ANTULOV, B. POLIĆ
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka,
Rijeka, Croatia
SUMMARY
NKG2D is an activating receptor that is involved in the innate and adaptive immune
response to various forms of cellular stress (infections, heat shock, etc.) and tumour
transformation. In mice, it is expressed on NK, NKT and T (CD8+ activated and memory ab and
some gd) cells. NKG2D is a transmembrane type II glycoprotein, encoded by a gene situated
within the NK complex of the mouse chromosome 6, which binds different, mostly stressinduced MHC class I-like molecules (MULT-1, H60 and Rae 1 family) on wide variety of cell
types.
Although the role of NKG2D has been intensively investigated in different models (viral
infections, tumour immunosurveillance, autoimmunity, etc.), to address more specific questions
on the role of NKG2D in the development, homeostasis and effector functions of the immune
system the use of a genetic approach seems to be inevitable. Therefore, we have generated
NKG2D knock out mouse strain by targeting of NKG2D in Bruce 4 (C57BL/6) embryonic stem
(ES) cells. Following the selection and screening procedure, we have identified several ES cell
clones positive for the homologous recombination of the targeting vector. Upon the
microinjection of the clones we have obtained several chimeras that have given germ-line
transmission of the mutation.