title: Development and function of CD1d-restricted NKT cells: influence of sphingolipids, SAP and sex.
abstract: Natural killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes with immunoregulatory properties. They express an invariant and conserved T-cell receptor that recognizes glycolipids presented by CD1d. Manipulation, activation or loss of NKT cells has profound effects on diverse immune functions and can influence desirable responses to infectious organisms and tumors, as well as undesirable responses to autoantigens. Here, we discuss recent progress in the identification of natural endogenous and exogenous CD1d-presented antigens, the understanding of factors that regulate development of NKT cells in the thymus and of factors that influence their function in the periphery. Clinical implications of these findings are briefly touched on.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden. Johan.Sandberg@medhs.ki.se
authors.forename: Johan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Hans-Gustaf
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Ljunggren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; C526877:CD1D protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C114953:SH2D1A protein, human; C499569:Sh2d1a protein, mouse; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D013107:Sphingolipids; C494957:FYN protein, human; C494960:Fyn protein, mouse; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D019061:src-Family Kinases