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NKT cell subsets in infection and inflammation
Woon Ling Chan1, Nada Pejnovic, Tze Vun Liew
1Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, Queen Mary's School of Medicine, University of London, London, UK. w.l.chan@qmul.ac.uk
Immunology Letters
|January 16, 2003
Summary
New cell surface markers, IL-18R and ST2L, reveal immune shifts in HIV/AIDS and psoriasis. These markers help determine lymphocyte subset function and immune status in various human diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Two cell surface markers, IL-18R and ST2L, are selectively expressed on T1/NK1 and T2/NK2 cells.
- These markers are crucial for understanding lymphocyte subset functional dichotomies, particularly in Natural Killer T (NKT) cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of IL-18R and ST2L in determining the functional dichotomy of lymphocyte subsets.
- To analyze peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with AIDS, psoriasis, and atherosclerosis using these markers.
Main Methods:
- Direct ex vivo analysis of PBMCs from patients with various diseases.
- Utilizing IL-18R and ST2L as markers for T1/NK1 and T2/NK2 cells, respectively.
Main Results:
- A significant shift from NKT1 to NKT2 cells was observed in HIV-infected individuals (P=0.001).
- A predominance of NKT2 cells over NKT1 cells was found in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis (P=0.005).
- In patients with atherosclerotic plaques, a predominance of Type 1 (IL-18R+) NKT lymphocytes over NKT2 was detected.
Conclusions:
- ST2L and IL-18R are important determinants of immune status in human diseases.
- These markers can differentiate lymphocyte subsets and reflect disease-specific immune profiles.