title: Harnessing NKT cells for therapeutic applications.
abstract: Activation of NKT cells leads to the maturation of dendritic cells and efficiently assists priming of antigen-specific immune responses. The lack of polymorphism of CDld molecules and the evolutionary conservation of NKT cell responses highlight the important role of these cells in bridging innate and adaptive immune responses and advocate the value of harnessing this system in clinical settings. Compounds capable of fine tuning NKT cell activation should be actively exploited as potent adjuvants in vaccination strategies or as immunomodulators of autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Tumour Immunology Group, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK. vincenzo.cerundolo@imm.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cerundolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salio
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic