Fig. 6: Mst1/2 program TCF1 expression to maintain NK cell homeostasis.

A Heatmap analysis of RNA-seq data reveals differential expression of certain transcription factors between NK cells from Mst1/2^fl/fl and Mst1/2^fl/flCD122^Cre mice. Flow cytometry analysis (B) and MFI intensity (C) demonstrate the levels of Eomes, T-bet, E4BP4 and TCF1 in splenic NK cells from Mst1/2^fl/fl and Mst1/2^fl/flCD122^Cre mice (n ≥ 4). D Gene-set enrichment analysis of RNA-seq data indicates a negative enrichment of TCF1-activated genes in Mst1/2-deficient NK cells compared to WT NK cells. E Flow cytometry analysis (left) and MFI intensity (right) reveal the levels of TCF1 in NK cells from the spleen of Mst1/2^fl/fl and Mst1/2^fl/flCD122^Cre mice upon stimulation with or without IL-15 (10 ng/mL) for 16 h (n = 4). F–I Representative plots (left panel) and summary data (right panel) illustrate the percentage of NK cells (F), the MFI of total cellular ROS levels (G), the percentage of 7AAD⁺ NK cells (H) and distribution pattern of different NK cell subsets (I) in the spleen of BM chimeric mice (n ≥ 3). Data B, C and E are representative of three independent experiments with similar results. Data F–I are representative of two independent experiments with similar results.