Natural killer T cells and haemopoiesis.
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a small but powerful subset of regulatory T cells involved in the modulation of a variety of normal and pathological immune responses. In contrast to conventional or other types of regulatory T cells, they are activated by glycolipid and phospholipid ligands that are presented to them by the non-polymorphic, major histocompatibility complex class I-like molecule CD1d. The in-depth understanding of their function has resulted in successful, iNKT cell-centred experimental therapeutic interventions including prevention of graft-versus-host disease and anti-leukaemia effects. Extending these successes into the clinical arena will require better understanding of their contribution to the pathogenesis of human, including haematological, diseases.
Karadimitris
Anastasios
A
Department of Haematology, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. a.karadimitris@imperial.ac.uk
Patterson
Scott
S
Spanoudakis
Emmanouil
E
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000276:immunology*; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; C526877:CD1D protein, human; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents