The Regulatory Role of Vα14 NKT Cells in Innate and Acquired Immune Response (original) (raw)

Abstract

A novel lymphocyte lineage, Vα14 natural killer T (NKT) cells, is now well established as distinct from conventional αβ T cells. Vα14 NKT cells express a single invariant Vα14 antigen receptor that is essential for their development. Successful identification of a specific ligand, α-galactosylceramide(α-GalCer), and the establishment of gene-manipulated mice with selective loss of Vα14 NKT cells helped elucidate the remarkable functional diversity of Vα14 NKT cells in various immune responses such as host defense by mediating anti-nonself innate immune reaction, homeostatic regulation of anti-self responses, and antitumor immunity.

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/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.immunol.21.120601.141057

2003-04-01

2024-10-21

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