A double-edged sword: the role of NKT cells in malaria and HIV infection and immunity.
NKT cells are known to play a role against certain microbial infections, including malaria and HIV, two major global infectious diseases. NKT cells exhibit either protective or pathogenic role against malaria. They are depleted by HIV infection and have a direct pathogenic role against many opportunistic infections common in end-stage AIDS. This review discusses the various features of the interaction between NKT cells and malaria parasites and HIV, and the potential to harness this interaction for therapeutic and vaccine strategies.
Vasan
Sandhya
S
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY 10016, United States. svasan@adarc.org <svasan@adarc.org>
Tsuji
Moriya
M
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D055610:Antigens, CD1d / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017209:Apoptosis; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D014612:Vaccines
D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D006017:Glycolipids; D014612:Vaccines