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Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
Published on: October 30, 2016
Natural killer T (NKT) cells and their role in antitumor immunity
Randy R Brutkiewicz1, Venkataraman Sriram
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine and the Walther Oncology Center, Building R4, Room 302, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis 46202, USA. rbrutkie@iupui.edu
Abstract:
Natural killer T (NKT) cells have become a major focus for those who study the innate immune response to tumors and infectious diseases, as well as autoimmunity. These novel T lymphocytes produce both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, recognize phospholipid and glycolipid antigens presented by CD1 molecules in a similar manner as peptides are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and kill tumor cell targets by a perforin-dependent mechanism like NK cells and CTL. These ascribed functions thus demonstrate that NKT cells are a unique cytotoxic effector cell subpopulation with a kaleidoscope of activities. Because they can mediate antitumor effects in vivo with or without the collaboration of NK cells, the study of NKT cells in antitumor immunity may lead to novel treatments based on the ability to manipulate the generation and/or activity of these multifunctional lymphocytes.
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