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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Examining the Role of Nasopharyngeal-associated Lymphoreticular Tissue (NALT) in Mouse Responses to Vaccines
Published on: August 1, 2012
The regulatory role of Valpha14 NKT cells in innate and acquired immune response
Masaru Taniguchi1, Michishige Harada, Satoshi Kojo
1Laboratory of Immune Regulation, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. taniguti@med.m.chiba-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A novel lymphocyte lineage, Valpha14 natural killer T (NKT) cells, is now well established as distinct from conventional alphabeta T cells. Valpha14 NKT cells express a single invariant Valpha14 antigen receptor that is essential for their development. Successful identification of a specific ligand, alpha-galactosylceramide(alpha-GalCer), and the establishment of gene-manipulated mice with selective loss of Valpha14 NKT cells helped elucidate the remarkable functional diversity of Valpha14 NKT cells in various immune responses such as host defense by mediating anti-nonself innate immune reaction, homeostatic regulation of anti-self responses, and antitumor immunity.
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