Invariant natural killer T cells: an innate activation scheme linked to diverse effector functions - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

doi: 10.1038/nri3369. Epub 2013 Jan 21.

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Review

Invariant natural killer T cells: an innate activation scheme linked to diverse effector functions

Patrick J Brennan et al. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells exist in a 'poised effector' state, which enables them to rapidly produce cytokines following activation. Using a nearly monospecific T cell receptor, they recognize self and foreign lipid antigens presented by CD1d in a conserved manner, but their activation can catalyse a spectrum of polarized immune responses. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the innate-like mechanisms underlying iNKT cell activation and describe how lipid antigens, the inflammatory milieu and interactions with other immune cell subsets regulate the functions of iNKT cells in health and disease.

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