title: Cytokine-induced killer cells are type II natural killer T cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until now, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells were assumed to be part of the type I natural killer T (NKT) cell population, but it was not yet investigated if this is correct.
  
  
  METHODS
  For analysis, CIK cells were generated by various culture conditions. Human type I NKT cells express a T cell receptor (TCR) composed of an invariant V alpha 24-J alpha Q chain combined with one of several V beta chains. The V alpha 24 is a reliable marker for the presence of these TCRs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While comparing cultures stimulated with different substances, we observed the lack of any V alpha 24 on the surface of CIK culture cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that CIK cells do not belong to the type I NKT cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gütgemann
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strehl
authors.forename: Ingo G H
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Wolf
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