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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
NKT cells in immunoregulation of tumor immunity: a new immunoregulatory axis
Masaki Terabe1, Jay A Berzofsky
1Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. terabe@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells have at least two subsets: type I, semi-invariant TCRalpha chain-expressing (Valpha14Jalpha18 in mice, Valpha24Jalpha18 in humans), and type II, variable TCRalpha chain-expressing. The protective role of NKT cells in tumor immunosurveillance and immunity has been well documented but paradoxically, there are also studies ascribing a suppressive role to these cells. Recent studies have resolved this paradox by revealing distinct roles for the two types of NKT cells, whereby type I NKT cells enhance anti-tumor responses and type II NKT cells suppress these responses. The finding of cross-regulation between the two types of NKT cells suggests a new immunoregulatory axis. Consideration of the cross-talk of NKT cells along with the well-defined suppression by regulatory T cells could provide new insights into cancer immunotherapy.
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