SAP-deficient iNKT cells exhibit defective in vivo control of antigen-pulsed EL4 cells. NSG mice were reconstituted or not (No NKT) with 4 × 105 sort-purified iNKT cells from tamoxifen-treated Sapfl/flCre– (SAP+) or Sapfl/flCre+ (SAP−) mice. Three days later, mice were injected intravenously with 1 × 105 PBS44-loaded EL4-Luc cells. (A) Whole body distribution of EL4-Luc cells over the first 2 weeks was determined by bioluminescence imaging. (B) Quantification of bioluminescence images at serial time points. Data points are the average radiance emitted from 4 mice per group. Statistical significance was determined by two-way ANOVA. *P < .05 and **P < .001 denotes comparisons among cohorts at specific time points. (C) Total bioluminescence in spleen (Spl) and liver (Liv) from a representative mouse in each group is shown. Bioluminescence (D-E) and weights (F-G) of organs were measured and the number of EL4 (H-I) and iNKT cells (J-K) was determined by flow cytometry. (L) Tumor burden in the liver was assessed histologically. Black arrows indicate tumor aggregates. Data are from 1 of 2 experiments in which a total of 7 to 8 mice in each cohort was examined. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD). Statistical significance was determined by unpaired two-tail t test. *P < .05; **P < .001; ns, not significant.
