title: NKT cells in leishmaniasis.
abstract: The role of NKT cells in the resistance or susceptibility towards Leishmania infections remains to be defined, since controversial data persist. The response of these cells seems to depend on many variables such as the infection site, the number of infecting parasites, the virulence of the strain and the Leishmania species. We here revise the activation pathways leading to NKT cell activation. NKT cells can be activated by the direct pathway, in which Leishmania glycolipids are presented by CD1d molecules on antigen presenting cells, such as dendritic cells (DC), leading to the secretion of diverse cytokines by NKT. NKT cells can also be activated by the indirect pathway, in which Leishmania glycolipids, such as LPG, stimulate TLR2 in DC, inducing their IL-12 production, which in turn activates NKT cells. The review further analyzes the role of NKT cells in disease development, both in humans as in mouse models. Finally we propose the activation of NKT cells for controlling Leishmania infections.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, Dr. Balmis 148, Ciudad de Mexico, C.P. 06726, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamora-Chimal
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Hígado, Pancreas y Motilidad, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Dirección de Investigación, Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Ciudad de México, C.P. 06726, Mexico.
authors.forename: Joselín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, Dr. Balmis 148, Ciudad de Mexico, C.P. 06726, Mexico. Electronic address: becker@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines
keywords: Activation pathway; CD1d; Dendritic cells; LPG; Leishmania mexicana; NKT; TLR2