title: Differential dendritic cell-mediated activation and functions of invariant NKT-cell subsets in oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are unique subset of glycolipid-reactive T lymphocytes with potent antitumour characteristics. This study was planned to understand Th-like cytokine profiles of iNKT-cell subsets and modulation of their functions in response to glycolipid ligand and tumour cell lysate (TL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokine profile of iNKT-cell subsets was evaluated from the peripheral blood of eight oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while antitumour activity of iNKT cells was measured by methyl tetrazolium salt assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD4(+) (CD4(+) CD8(-)) iNKT subset from OSCC patients showed significant (P < 0.01) expansion and higher IL-4 production following activation with α-GalCer-pulsed DCs, while CD4(-) CD8(-) double negative (DN) and CD8(+) (CD4(-) CD8(+) iNKT subsets produced IFN-γ predominantly. iNKT cells showed significantly (P = 0.02) increased secretion of IFN-γ and enhanced cytotoxicity to KB and SCC-4 tumour cells in response to α-GalCer and TL-pulsed DCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that mutual balance/ratio of iNKT subsets may be important for their effector functions. Selectively expanded DN and CD8(+) iNKT cells with α-GalCer and TL may be a better candidate vaccine for iNKT-cell-based adoptive cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: cytokine; cytotoxicity; dendritic cells; iNKT subsets; oral cancer; α-galactosylceramide