The unconventional lifestyle of NKT cells

M Kronenberg, L Gapin - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2002 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2002nature.com
Many characteristics distinguish CD1d-reactive natural killer T (NKT) cells that express the
invariant Vα14–Jα18 T-cell receptor (known here as Vα14 i T cells) from conventional T
cells. Because of their apparent self-reactivity, their expression of natural-killer receptors and
their capacity to secrete large quantities of cytokines rapidly—including interferon-γ and
interleukin-4—it has been proposed that Vα14 i T cells might be important for the initiation
and regulation of immune responses. New studies are beginning to shed light on the …
Abstract
Many characteristics distinguish CD1d-reactive natural killer T (NKT) cells that express the invariant Vα14–Jα18 T-cell receptor (known here as Vα14i T cells) from conventional T cells. Because of their apparent self-reactivity, their expression of natural-killer receptors and their capacity to secrete large quantities of cytokines rapidly — including interferon-γ and interleukin-4 — it has been proposed that Vα14i T cells might be important for the initiation and regulation of immune responses. New studies are beginning to shed light on the development, selection, homeostasis and possible function(s) of Vα14i T cells, which are 'non-conformists' compared with the main T-cell populations. These studies might lead to the development of techniques for the controlled manipulation of the Vα14i T-cell response, which could one day form the basis of immune therapies.
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