Abstract: Objective To compare the rates of iNKT cells in peripheral blood, thymus, spleen, liver and the proportion of iNKT1, iNKT2 in thymus, spleen, liver respectively of three strains mice: DBA/1, NOD/LtJ and C57BL/6J. Methods Isolation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood, thymus, spleen and liver of mice. TCR β and CD1d tetramers were detected by using FCM to identify the rates of iNKT cells, endonuclear PLZF and T-bet were detected to confirm iNKT1 and iNKT2 subgroup in lymphocytes of these tissues. Results(1)The rates of iNKT cells was the lowest in the peripheral blood and the highest in the liver in all the three strains of mice.Compared with DBA/1 and NOD/LtJ mice, the rates of iNKT cells in C57BL/6J mice was lower in thymus, but was higher in liver. Compared with C57BL/6J and DBA/1 mice, the rates of iNKT cells in NOD/LtJ mice was lower in spleen and liver.(2)In all the three strains of mice, the proportion of iNKT2 was relatively high in thymus, iNKT1 was relatively high in spleen and liver. Among them, C57BL/6J mice was the lowest proportion of iNKT2 in thymus, and NOD/LtJ mice had the higher proportion of iNKT1 in spleen and liver. Conclusion In the DBA/1, NOD/LtJ and C57BL/6J mice, the rates and subpopulation ratio of iNKT cells were significantly different in different tissues of the same strain mice and in different strains mice of the same tissue.

Key words: three strains of mice, iNKT cells, iNKT1, iNKT2