Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

iNKT-cell responses to glycolipids.

Vrajesh V Parekh1, Michael T Wilson, Luc Van Kaer

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Critical Reviews in Immunology
|July 29, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, activated by alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), show therapeutic potential. This immune cell activation offers promise for treating various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune conditions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Bridging the Gap: The Emerging Role of memory CD8+ T Cells in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.

American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology·2026
Same author

Editorial: Community series in the role of CD1- and MR1-restricted T cells in immunity and disease: volume III.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Can ferric-oxyl excited states explain elongated iron-oxygen bonds in heme peroxidase catalytic intermediates?

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Mixed-model and transcriptome-wide association analyses identify transcription factors and genes associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Targeting formyl peptide receptor 1 reduces brain inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

The cytochrome P450 decarboxylase from Staphylococcus aureus can produce a diene from a C18 monounsaturated fatty acid: A spectroscopic, structural and kinetic characterisation.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry·2025

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are unique T lymphocytes that recognize glycolipid antigens via CD1d.
  • iNKT cells regulate immune responses, making them key targets for immunotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic potential of alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) in activating iNKT cells.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of iNKT cell-based immunotherapies for various diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of alpha-GalCer to mice and humans.
  • Observation of iNKT cell activation and subsequent immune responses.
  • Preclinical studies in mice to assess disease protection.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Alpha-GalCer potently activates iNKT cells, leading to rapid cytokine secretion.
  • Activated iNKT cells stimulate innate and adaptive immune cells.
  • Preclinical models show alpha-GalCer protects against cancer, infections, and inflammatory diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Alpha-GalCer demonstrates significant immunomodulatory activity with therapeutic potential.
  • Despite side effects in mice, alpha-GalCer has shown safety in human clinical trials.
  • iNKT cell-based immunotherapies are promising for treating diverse human diseases.