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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Interview: Glycolipid Antigen Presentation by CD1d and the Therapeutic Potential of NKT cell Activation
Published on: January 1, 2008
The immunoregulatory role of CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells in disease
Hans J J van der Vliet1, Johan W Molling, B Mary E von Blomberg
1The Departments of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Natural killer T (NKT) cells constitute a T cell subpopulation that shares several characteristics with NK cells. NKT cells are characterized by a narrow T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire, recognize glycolipid antigen in the context of the monomorphic CD1d antigen-presenting molecule, and have the unique capacity to rapidly produce large amounts of both T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokines. Important roles of NKT cells have now been demonstrated in the regulation of autoimmune, allergic, antimicrobial, and antitumor immune responses. Here, we review the immunoregulatory role of NKT cells in disease and discuss NKT cell based immunotherapeutic strategies.
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