title: Recognition and function of Valpha14 NKT cells.
abstract: A novel lymphocyte lineage, V alpha 14 NKT cells, has recently been identified and appears to be distinct from conventional alphabeta T cells. V alpha 14 NKT cells express a single invariant V alpha 14 antigen receptor that is essential for their development. They recognize a glycolipid antigen (alpha -galactosylceramide) or parasitic glycophosphatidylinositols (GPI) in association with a monomorphic class Ib, CD1d, and perform various functions such as Th1 and Th2 cytokine production as well as perforin/granzyme B-mediated cytotoxicity. Although the precise physiological function of V alpha 14 NKT cells remains to be elucidated, emerging experimental evidence suggests their intriguing regulatory features in the immune system.
authors.affiliation: CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) Project and Department of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. taniguti@med.m.chiba-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta