The regulatory role of Valpha14 NKT cells in innate and acquired immune response.
A novel lymphocyte lineage, Valpha14 natural killer T (NKT) cells, is now well established as distinct from conventional alphabeta T cells. Valpha14 NKT cells express a single invariant Valpha14 antigen receptor that is essential for their development. Successful identification of a specific ligand, alpha-galactosylceramide(alpha-GalCer), and the establishment of gene-manipulated mice with selective loss of Valpha14 NKT cells helped elucidate the remarkable functional diversity of Valpha14 NKT cells in various immune responses such as host defense by mediating anti-nonself innate immune reaction, homeostatic regulation of anti-self responses, and antitumor immunity.
Taniguchi
Masaru
M
Laboratory of Immune Regulation, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. taniguti@med.m.chiba-u.ac.jp
Harada
Michishige
M
Kojo
Satoshi
S
Nakayama
Toshinori
T
Wakao
Hiroshi
H
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D008024:Ligands; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta