Natural killer T cell and pathophysiology of asthma.
10.3345/kjp.2010.53.2.136
- Author:
Gwang Cheon JANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, NHIC Ilsan Hospital, Ilsan, Korea. janggwangcheon@daum.net
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
NKT cell;
Asthma;
CD1d molecule;
alpha-GalCer
- MeSH:
Animals;
Antigen-Presenting Cells;
Asthma;
Autoimmune Diseases;
Colitis;
Communicable Diseases;
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental;
Galactosylceramides;
Humans;
Interferon-gamma;
Interleukin-4;
Mice;
Natural Killer T-Cells;
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell;
T-Lymphocytes;
Thyroid Gland;
Thyroiditis;
Viruses
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2010;53(2):136-145
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Natural killer T (NKT) cell is a special type of T lymphocytes that has both receptor of natural killer (NK) cell (NK1.1, CD161c) and T cell (TCR) and express a conserved or invariant T cell receptor called Valpha14Jalpha18 in mice or Va24 in humans. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cell recognizes lipid antigen presented by CD1d molecules. Marine-sponge-derived glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceremide (alpha-GalCer), binds CD1d at the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells and is presented to iNKT cells. Within hours, iNKT cells become activated and start to secrete Interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma. NKT cell prevents autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, systemic lupus erythematous, inflammatory colitis, and Graves' thyroiditis, by activation with alpha-GalCer. In addition, NKT cell is associated with infectious diseases by mycobacteria, leshmania, and virus. Moreover NKT cell is associated with asthma, especially CD4+ iNKT cells. In this review, I will discuss the characteristics of NKT cell and the association with inflammatory diseases, especially asthma.
