Natural killer T cell

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Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a heterogeneous group of T cells that share properties of both T cells and Natural killer cells. Many of these cells recognize the non-polymorphic CD1d molecule, an antigen-presenting molecule that binds self and foreign lipids and glycolipids. They constitute only approximately 1% of all peripheral blood T cells. Natural killer T cells are known to be able to recognize and respond to a variety of diseases such as cancer, infections, autoimmunity, and inflammation.

Function[edit | edit source]

NKT cells are thought to bridge the innate and adaptive immune responses. They are able to recognize and respond to a variety of diseases such as cancer, infections, autoimmunity, and inflammation. They are also involved in the regulation of immune responses, tissue homeostasis, and inflammation.

Types[edit | edit source]

There are two main types of NKT cells, type I and type II. Type I NKT cells recognize lipid antigens presented by CD1d, a molecule found on the surface of various antigen-presenting cells. These cells are also known as invariant NKT cells (iNKT cells) because their T-cell receptor (TCR) is semi-invariant. Type II NKT cells are CD1d-restricted T cells that express a more diverse TCR repertoire.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

NKT cells have been implicated in a variety of disease states including cancer, infection, autoimmunity, and inflammation. They have been shown to have potent anti-tumor effects in a variety of cancer models. In addition, they have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

See also[edit | edit source]

Natural killer T cell Resources
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