NKT cells and HIV infection
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Preparation and Use of HIV-1 Infected Primary CD4+ T-Cells as Target Cells in Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxic Assays
Published on: March 14, 2011
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 21st ave South, Medical Center North, Room: AA-5206, Nashville, TN 37232-2363, USA. derya.unutmaz@vanderbilt.edu
Abstract:
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes glycolipids presented by the non-polymorphic MHC class I-like molecule CD1d. NKT cells regulate a wide variety of immune functions against autoantigens and pathogens. Recently, it was shown that NKT cells are targeted by HIV-1 and selectively lost in HIV-infected individuals. This review will focus on the mechanisms, consequences and therapeutic implications of these findings.
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