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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Interview: Glycolipid Antigen Presentation by CD1d and the Therapeutic Potential of NKT cell Activation
Published on: December 31, 2007
NKT cell immune responses to viral infection
Marlowe S Tessmer1, Ayesha Fatima, Christophe Paget
1Brown University, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Providence, USA.
Background:
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a heterogeneous population of innate T cells that have attracted interest because of their potential to regulate immune responses to a variety of pathogens. The most widely studied NKT cell subset is the invariant (i)NKT cells that recognize glycolipids in the context of the CD1d molecule. The multifaceted methods of activation iNKT cells possess and their ability to produce regulatory cytokines has made them a primary target for studies.
Objective/Methods:
To give insights into the roles of iNKT cells during infectious diseases, particularly viral infections. We also highlight mechanisms leading to iNKT cell activation in response to pathogens.
Conclusions:
iNKT cell's versatility allows them to detect and respond to several viruses. Therapeutic approaches to specifically target iNKT cells will require additional research. Notably, the roles of non-invariant NKT cells in response to pathogens warrant further investigation.
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