Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Biphasic Targeting And Cleavage Furrow Ingression Directed By The Tail Of A Myosin Ii, X. Fang, J. Y. Luo, R. Nishihama, C. Wloka, C. Dravis, M. Travaglia, M. Iwase, Elizabeth Ann Vallen, E. Bi

Biology Faculty Works

Cytokinesis in animal and fungal cells utilizes a contractile actomyosin ring (AMR). However, how myosin II is targeted to the division site and promotes AMR assembly, and how the AMR coordinates with membrane trafficking during cytokinesis, remains poorly understood. Here we show that Myo1 is a two-headed myosin II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and that Myo1 localizes to the division site via two distinct targeting signals in its tail that act sequentially during the cell cycle. Before cytokinesis, Myo1 localization depends on the septin-binding protein Bni5. During cytokinesis, Myo1 localization depends on the IQGAP Iqg1. We also show that the Myo1 …

Mosaic Analysis With Double Markers (Madm) As A Method To Map Cell Fates In Adult Mouse Taste Buds., Preston D. Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Taste buds are chemosensory endorgans embedded in the oral epithelium composed of cells that undergo continuous replacement. Mature taste cells live on average 10-14 days and are replaced by new cells when they die. However, the mechanism by which taste cells are produced and integrated into the taste bud as mature taste cells remains unknown. Previous studies approached this issue from either cell cycle gene expression properties or lineage tracing of precursor cells. In our study, we apply a new fate mapping technique that combines these two ideas. This technique, Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers, allows for simultaneous gene knockout …

The Roles Of Elevated Bcl-2 In Ovarian Cancer, Nicole Shree Anderson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the second most common gynecologic cancer; however it is responsible for the most gynecologic cancer-related deaths. Apoptosis evasion is an important mechanism in OC tumorigenesis, and the prototypic anti-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), is often overexpressed in OC tumors. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanism(s) behind Bcl-2 overexpression and potential extra-anti-apoptotic functions of Bcl-2 could elucidate the importance of elevated Bcl-2 in OC. In the current study, I show through immunohistochemical analysis of normal, benign, and OC tissue sections, that both epithelial and stromal Bcl-2 expression decreases with OC progression. However, the number of …

Development Of A Genetic Modification System In Clostridium Scatologenes Atcc 25775 For Generation Of Mutants, Prasanna Tamarapu Parthasarathy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

3-Methyl indole (3-MI) is a malodorant in food and animal waste and Clostridium scatologenes ATCC 25775 is the model organism for the study of 3-MI production. 3-MI is an anaerobic degradation product of L-tryptophan and can cause pulmonary disorders and death in cattle and goats. To elucidate the 3-MI biosynthesis pathway and the underlying genes, it is necessary to develop a system to allow genetic modification in Clostridium scatologenes ATCC 25775. Bacteriophages and transposons are useful tools to achieve this goal. Isolation of Clostridium scatologenes ATCC 25775 bacteriophage was attempted by prophage induction and enrichments using environmental sources. To induce …

Analyzing The Role Of Αvβ8 Integrin In Glioma-Induced Angiogenesis, Jeremy H. Tchaicha

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

In this study we aimed to determine the functional roles for αvβ8 integrin in astrocytoma-induced angiogenesis. These studies originate from our analyses of αvβ8 integrin in developmental brain angiogenesis. αv and β8 knockout (KO) mice develop brain-specific vascular phenotypes that resemble vascular pathologies observed in the malignant astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Indeed, a murine xenograft model of astrocytoma suggested a role for the integrin in glioma-induced angiogenesis. Primary mouse astroglia were cultured from wild type (WT) and β8 KO neonates and were immortalized (HPV:E6/E7) and transformed (HRas:G12V). WT and β8 KO transformed astroglia were intracranially injected into athymic mice. WT …

Dynamic Remodeling Of The Stressed Heart: Role Of Protein Degradation Pathways, Deborah Vela

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The heart is a remarkable organ. In order to maintain its function, it remodels in response to a variety of environmental stresses, including pressure overload, volume overload, mechanical or pharmacological unloading and hormonal or metabolic disturbances. All these responses are linked to the inherent capacity of the heart to rebuild itself. Particularly, cardiac pressure overload activates signaling pathways of both protein synthesis and degradation. While much is known about regulators of protein synthesis, little is known about regulators of protein degradation in hypertrophy. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) selectively degrades unused and abnormal intracellular proteins. I speculated that the UPS may …

Mcam/Muc18 Regulates Melanoma Progression By Modulating The Expression Of Id-1, Maya Zigler

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The acquisition of the metastatic melanoma phenotype is associated with increased expression of the melanoma cell adhesion molecule MCAM/MUC18 (CD146). However, the mechanism by which MUC18 contributes to melanoma metastasis remains unclear. Herein, we stably silenced MUC18 expression utilizing lentivirus-incorporated small hairpin RNA, in two metastatic melanoma cell lines, A375SM and C8161, and conducted cDNA microarray analysis. We identified and validated that the transcriptional regulator, Inhibitor of DNA Binding-1 (Id-1), previously shown to function as an oncogene in several malignancies, was downregulated by 5.6-fold following MUC18 silencing. Additionally, we found that MUC18 regulated Id-1 expression at the transcriptional level via …

Production, Purification And Crystallization Of Membrane Integrated Multimeric Bax, Adelbert Mark Villoso

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a vital process intimately involved in the embryonic development and homeostatic maintenance of all multicellular organisms. The committing step to apoptosis is regulated by a key protein, Bax, and its ability to integrate and form a pore structure at the outer mitochondrial membrane.

Unfortunately, the molecular details of apoptosis remain largely unclear due to the lack of structural data of integral membrane (IM) Bax. Experimental limitations of membrane protein production have slowed the pursuit of an IM-Bax structure simply because standard protocols for producing recombinant IM-Bax are inefficient in producing adequate quantities of IM-Bax …

Role Of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor In Calcium Signaling Induced By Prion Protein Interaction With Stress-Inducible Protein 1, Flavio H. Beraldo, Camila P. Arantes, Tiago G. Santos, Nicolle G. T. Queiroz, Kirk Young, Jane R. Rylett, Regina P. Markus, Marco A. M. Prado, Vilma R. Martins

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

The prion protein (PrP(C)) is a conserved glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol-anchored cell surface protein expressed by neurons and other cells. Stress-inducible protein 1 (STI1) binds PrP(C) extracellularly, and this activated signaling complex promotes neuronal differentiation and neuroprotection via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKA) pathways. However, the mechanism by which the PrPC-STI1 interaction transduces extracellular signals to the intracellular environment is unknown. We found that in hippocampal neurons, STI1-PrP(C) engagement induces an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) levels. This effect was not detected in PrP(C)-null neurons or wild-type neurons treated with an STI1 mutant unable to …

Proteoliposome Proton Flux Assays Establish Net Conductance, Ph-Sensitivity, And Functional Integrity Of A Novel Truncate Of The M2 Ion "Channel" Of Influenza A, Emily Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

A novel truncate of Influenza A M2 protein (residues 22-62), incorporated into a uniquely tailored proteoliposome proton uptake assay, demonstrated proton flux more characteristic of an ion transporter than a traditional ion "channel." The liposome paradigm was essential for testing the conductance activity of this M2 truncate at a range of extraphysiological pHs appropriate for channel vs. transport function determination. In addition to transporter-typical proton flux, M2(22-62) showed the key characteristics of functional integrity: selective proton uptake into liposomes and block of uptake by amantadine. Two sets of proteoliposome proton flux assays were carried out, Set 1 at pH values …

Characterization Of The Lkb1-Mo25-Strad Ampkk Complex In Adult Mouse Skeletal Muscle, Cody Don Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In liver tissue, the AMP-activated protein kinase kinase (AMPKK) complex was identified as the association of LKB1, MO25α/β, and STRADα/β proteins; however, this complex has yet to be characterized in skeletal muscle. In this report, we demonstrate the expression of the LKB1-MO25-STRAD AMPKK complex in adult skeletal muscle, confirm the absence of mRNA splice variants, and report the relative mRNA expression levels of these complex-forming proteins. To facilitate this characterization we used control (ctrl) and muscle-specific LKB1 knockout (LKB1-/-) mice. LKB1 detection in untreated ctrl and LKB1-/- muscle lysates revealed two protein bands at approximately 50 and 60 kDa; although, …

Virulence Of An Emerging Respiratory Pathogen, Genus Pandoraea, In Vivo And Its Interactions With Lung Epithelial Cells, Gillian Herbert, Anne Costello, Lydia Fabunmi, Kirsten Schaffer, Kevin Kavanagh, Emma M. Caraher, Máire Callaghan, Siobhan Mcclean

Articles

Pandoraea species have emerged as opportunistic pathogens among cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF patients. Pandoraea pulmonicola is the predominant Pandoraea species among Irish CF patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and potential mechanisms of virulence of Irish P. pulmonicola isolates and strains from other Pandoraea species. Three patients from whom the P. pulmonicola isolates were isolated have since died. The in vivo virulence of these and other Pandoraea strains was examined by determining the ability to kill Galleria mellonella larvae. The P. pulmonicola strains generally were the most virulent of the species tested, with three …

Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Invasion Of Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing Erbb2, Mei Xu, Kimberly A. Bower, Siying Wang, Jacqueline A. Frank, Gang Chen, Min Ding, Shiow Wang, Xianglin Shi, Zunji Ke, Jia Luo

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Ethanol is a tumor promoter. Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that ethanol may enhance the metastasis of breast cancer cells. We have previously demonstrated that ethanol increased the migration/invasion of breast cancer cells expressing high levels of ErbB2. Amplification of ErbB2 is found in 20-30% of breast cancer patients and is associated with poor prognosis. We sought to identify agents that can prevent or ameliorate ethanol-induced invasion of breast cancer cells. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), an anthocyanin present in many vegetables and fruits, is a potent natural antioxidant. Ethanol exposure causes the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This …

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping Reveals Candidate Pathways Regulating Cell Cycle Duration In Plasmodium Falciparum, Heather B. Reilly Ayala, Mark A. Wacker, Geoffrey Siwo, Michael T. Ferdig

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

Background: Elevated parasite biomass in the human red blood cells can lead to increased malaria morbidity. The genes and mechanisms regulating growth and development of Plasmodium falciparum through its erythrocytic cycle are not well understood. We previously showed that strains HB3 and Dd2 diverge in their proliferation rates, and here use quantitative trait loci mapping in 34 progeny from a cross between these parent clones along with integrative bioinformatics to identify genetic loci and candidate genes that control divergences in cell cycle duration. Results: Genetic mapping of cell cycle duration revealed a four-locus genetic model, including a major genetic effect …

Molecular Mechanism Of Agc Kinases In Human Malignant, Shaokun Shu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The maintenance of normal cell function and tissue homeostasis is dependent on the precise regulation of multiple signaling pathways that control cellular decisions to either proliferate, differentiate, arrest cell growth, or initiate programmed cell death (apoptosis). Cancer arises when clones of mutated cells escape this balance and proliferate inappropriately without compensatory apoptosis. Deregulated cell growth occurs as a result of perturbed signal transduction that modulates or alters cellular behavior or function to keep the critical balance between the rate of cell-cycle progression (cell division) and cell growth (cell mass) on one hand, and programmed cell death (apoptosis, autophagy) on the …

Ruthenium Complexes As Dna Photonucleases In Treatment Of Malignant Skin Carcinoma, Devi Kalyan Karumanchi

All Capstone Projects

A variety of Ruthenium complexes possessing terpyridine complexes as ligands in their coordination sphere have been investigated extensively as DNA photo nucleases in vitro. This work has led to the realization that compounds of Ruthenium bind to DNA purines and that the interactions are of an unprecedented bridging variety. Owing to the molar absorptivity of these complexes in the visible region, direct cleavage of duplex DNA by these complexes requires irradiation in the range of 400-500 nm.

Although the observation of DNA photo cleavage in vitro makes these systems good candidates for further investigation, it does not provide any information …

Characterization Of Metastasis-Associated Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Prostate Cancer, Lifang Yang

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health problem in males in the United States. Its lethality is mostly attributed to the primary tumor metastasizing to distant sites that are highly resistant to conventional therapies. Serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the only protein biomarker used in clinic for prediction of prostate cancer recurrence following local therapies. Nonetheless, PSA lacks the ability to predict the behavior of an individual tumor in an individual patient. Therefore, development of reliable biomarkers for detection of metastatic potential in primary tumors, as well as discovery of new therapeutic targets, is in a great need for …

The Human In 3d: Advanced Morphometric Analysis Of High-Resolution Anatomically Accurate Computed Models, Summer J. Decker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computed virtual models of anatomical structures are proving to be of increasing value in clinical medicine, education and research. With a variety of fields focused on craniofacial and pelvic anatomy there is a need for accurate anatomical models. Recent technological advancements in computer and medical imaging technologies have provided the tools necessary to develop three-dimensional (3D) functional models of human anatomy for use in medicine (surgical planning and education), forensics and engineering (computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis).

Traditionally caliper methodologies are used in the quantitative analysis of human anatomy. In order for experts in anatomy and morphometrics to …

Dispersion Of Cytotoxic Properties Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Suspended In Biological Solutions With Tween 80: Their Role In Enhancing Killing Effects Of Nanosecond Pulse Electric Fields On Tumor Cell Lines, Bhargava S. Kalluri

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine whether multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) suspended in the surfactant Tween 80 give an additive killing effect on tumor cells when exposed to nsPEFs. In this study, MWCNTs were suspended in DMEM and RPMI with or without T80 (surfactant). The size distribution of MWCNTs suspended in these solutions was evaluated with a Delsa™ Nano Zeta potential and sub micro particle Size Analyzer and confirmed with microscopy. The cytotoxicity of MWCNTs dispersed in different concentrations of T80 was evaluated in PANC1 (Human pancreatic cancer cell line) and Jurkat cell lines (Human T-cell lymphoblast cell …

Activation Of P44/42 In Human Natural Killer Cells Decreases Cell-Surface Protein Expression: Relationship To Tributyltin-Induced Alterations Of Protein Expression, Fred D. Dudimah, Abraham Abraha, Xiaofei Wang, Margaret M. Whalen

Chemistry Faculty Research

Tributyltin (TBT) activates the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), p44/42 in human natural killer (NK) cells. TBT also reduces NK cytotoxic function and decreases the expression of several NK-cell proteins. To understand the role that p44/42 activation plays in TBT-induced loss of NK cell function, this study investigated how selective activation of p44/42 by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) affects NK cells. Previously it was shown that PMA caused losses of lytic function similar to those seen with TBT exposures. This study examined activation of p44/42 in the regulation of NK-cell protein expression and how this regulation may explain the protein …

The Biogeochemistry Of Submerged Coastal Karst Features In West Central Florida, Keith Michael Garman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

West Central Florida is a complex karst environment with numerous sinkholes, springs, and submerged cave systems. Many of these karst features are anchialine, located within the subterranean estuary where freshwater and saltwater mix. Water quality data and/or fauna data were obtained from twenty-one karst features and their associated cave systems. The anchialine karst environment of the study area has a wide range of habitats with measured salinities ranging from freshwater at <0.2 ppt to sulfidic, hypersaline water at 38.5 ppt and measured pH readings ranging from 6.39 in water impacted by sulfur oxidizing bacteria to 10.3 in an isolated room of a cave. Stygobitic crustaceans were identified in conduits extending beneath the Gulf of Mexico supporting the hypotheses that freshwater crustaceans could survive higher sea levels in freshwater conduits beneath saltwater. The fauna associated with the anchialine cave systems included Sabellidae and Polychaeta worms, hydroids, cnidarians and hydrobiid snails. Jewfish Sink, like other anaerobic marine basins that were submarine springs, has four zones: oxic zone, transition zone, upper anoxic zone and anoxic bottom water. The upper zones have seasonal water quality variations from winter cooling and sinking of surface water and changes in the microbial communities. Activity of sulfate reducing bacteria is carbon limited in the anoxic zones, where sulfate reduction is the major metabolic process, and primary production is phosphate limited in the oxic zones. Organic input from the Gulf of Mexico drives the bacterial anaerobic ecosystem, resulting in a “sulfide pump”, in which sulfide percolates upward removing oxygen from the overlying sediment.

Identification Of An Archaeal Presenilin-Like Intramembrane Protease, Celia Torres-Arancivia, Carolyn M. Ross, Jose Chavez, Zahra Assur, Georgia Dolios, Filippo Mancia, Iban Ubarretxena-Belandia

Publications and Research

Background: The GXGD-type diaspartyl intramembrane protease, presenilin, constitutes the catalytic core of the c-secretase multi-protein complex responsible for activating critical signaling cascades during development and for the production of b-amyloid peptides (Ab) implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. The only other known GXGD-type diaspartyl intramembrane proteases are the eukaryotic signal peptide peptidases (SPPs). The presence of presenilin-like enzymes outside eukaryots has not been demonstrated. Here we report the existence of presenilin-like GXGD-type diaspartyl intramembrane proteases in archaea.

Methodology and Principal Findings: We have employed in vitro activity assays to show that MCMJR1, a polytopic membrane protein from the archaeon Methanoculleus marisnigri JR1, …

Cd277 Is A Negative Co-Stimulatory Molecule Universally Expressed By Ovarian Cancer Microenvironmental Cells, Juan R. Cubillos-Ruiz, Diana Martinez, Uciane K. Scarlett, Melanie R. Rutkowski, Yolanda C. Nesbeth, Ana L. Camposeco-Jacobs, Jose R. Conejo-Garcia

Dartmouth Scholarship

CD277, a member of the butyrophilin subfamily 3 (BTN3), shares significant sequence similarities and predicted common structural features with inhibitory B7-H4 and other members of the B7 superfamily. Here we report that CD277 is consistently expressed in stromal, as well as tumor cells in the microenvironment of human advanced ovarian carcinoma specimens, both of primary and metastatic origin. MHC-II+ myeloid antigenpresenting leukocytes (dendritic cells and macrophages) express significantly higher levels of surface CD277, compared to other tumor-infiltrating leukocyte subsets, and this expression is significantly up-regulated by multiple common tumor microenvironmental signals, including VEGF and CCL3. Most importantly, engagement of CD277 …

Repression Of Wnt Signaling By A Fer-Type Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinase, Aaron P. Putzke

Biology Faculty Scholarship

The Wnt signaling pathway must be properly modulated to ensure an appropriate output: pathological conditions result from either insufficient or excessive levels of Wnt signal. For example, hyperactivation of the Wnt pathway is associated with various cancers and subnormal Wnt signaling can lead to increased invasiveness of tumor cells. We found that the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of the Fer nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, FRK-1, limits Wnt signaling by preventing the adhesion complex-associated β-catenin, HMP-2, from participating in Wnt-dependent specification of the endoderm during embryogenesis. Removal of FRK-1 function results in relocalization of HMP-2 to the nucleus of epidermal cells, and allows …

Distinct Macrophage Subpopulations Regulate Viral Encephalitis But Not Viral Clearance In The Cns, Christina D. Steel, Woong-Ki Kim, Larry Sanford, Laurie Wellman, Sandra Burnett, Nico Van Rooijen, Rochard P. Ciavarra

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Intranasal application of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) induces acute encephalitis characterized by a pronounced myeloid and T cell infiltrate. The role of distinct phagocytic populations on VSV encephalitis was therefore examined in this study. Ablation of peripheral macrophages did not impair VSV encephalitis or viral clearance from the brain, whereas, depletion of splenic marginal dendritic cells impaired this response and enhanced morbidity/mortality. Selective depletion of brain perivascular macrophages also suppressed this response without altering viral clearance. Thus, two anatomically distinct phagocytic populations regulate VSV encephalitis in a non-redundant fashion although neither population is essential for viral clearance in the CNS. …

Role Of Ampk In The Upregulation Of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein In The Zona Fasciculata Of The Adrenal Cortex, Adam Wesley Dayton

Theses and Dissertations

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid produced by the zona fasciculata (ZF) of the adrenal cortex. Traditionally, cortisol production and release was seen as being regulated strictly by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). While this is true of baseline cortisol levels and in response to acute mental stress, the picture is somewhat more complicated in other situations.Interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to the maintenance of cortisol levels in situations of prolonged immune or inflammatory stress. AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) was investigated as a possible mediator of the action of IL-6 or as an independent actor in raising cortisol levels in response to hypoxemic or hypoglycemic …

The Effects Of Growth Hormone In The Inner Ear Of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) During Hair Cell Regeneration, Chia-Hui Lin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Although deafness is a universal problem, effective treatments have remained elusive. In order to develop potential treatments, an overall understanding of the cellular process of auditory hair cell regeneration, which occurs in fish but not mammals, must be established. A previous microarray analysis and qRT-PCR validation of noise-exposed zebrafish showed that growth hormone (GH) was significantly upregulated during the process of auditory hair cell regeneration. Thus, GH may play an important role during hair cell regeneration. However, cellular effects of exogenous GH in the zebrafish auditory hair cell regeneration have not been examined after noise exposure. To understand the effect …

The Role Of Tyrosine Phosphorylation In The Functions Of The Tumor Suppressor Gprc5a, Xiaofeng Lin

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The retinoic acid inducible G protein coupled receptor family C group 5 type A (GPRC5A) is expressed preferentially in normal lung tissue but its expression is suppressed in the majority of human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and tissues. This differential expression has led to the idea that GPRC5A is a potential tumor suppressor. This notion was supported by the finding that mice with a deletion of the Gprc5a gene develop spontaneous lung tumors. However, there are various tumor cell lines and tissue samples, including lung, that exhibit higher GPRC5A expression than normal tissues and some reports by other …

Genetic Analysis Of The Function Of The Drosophila Doublesex-Related Factor Dmrt93b, Diana O'Day

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

DMRT (Doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor) proteins generally associated with sexual differentiation in many organisms share a common DNA binding domain and are often expressed in reproductive tissues. Aside from doublesex, which is a central factor in the regulation of sex determination, Drosophila possesses three different dmrt genes that are of unknown function. Because the association with sexual differentiation and reproduction is not universal and some DMRT proteins have been found to play other developmental roles we chose to further characterize one of these Drosophila genes. We carried out genetic analysis of dmrt93B, which was previously found to be …

Defining The Role Of Il-15 Trans-Presentation By Distinct Cell-Types During The Development And Homeostasis Of Natural Killer And Invariant Natural Killer T Cells, Eliseo F. Castillo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The immuno-regulatory functions displayed by NK and iNKT cells have highlighted their importance as key lymphocytes involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Therefore, understanding the dynamics influencing the generation of NK and iNKT cells is extremely important. IL-15 has been shown to provide a critical signal throughout the development and homeostasis of NK and iNKT cells; however, the cellular source of IL-15 has remained unclear. In this investigation, I provide evidence that the cell-type providing IL-15 to NK and iNKT cells via trans-presentation is determined by the tissue site and the maturation status of NK and iNKT cells. For NK …