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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
Published on: December 29, 2012
Tolerant T cells inhibit natural killer cells function in antigen-presenting cells in an independent fashion
1State Key Lab of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Understanding the relationships among immune cells in the setting of immunologic tolerance is imperative to maintain organ and tissue transplants. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are responsible for both immune tolerance and immune rejection; however, there is only limited knowledge about the relevance of T and NK cells in tolerance. To address this issue, we explored the possible actions of tolerant T cells on NK cells by the means of mixed lymphocyte co-cultures and NK cytotoxicity assays. We showed that tolerant T cell-induced blockade of the co-stimulatory pathway significantly inhibited NK cell function in vitro regarding antigen-presenting cells. This action was cell-cell-contact dependent. We argue that tolerant T cells and NK cells impart synergistic cooperation to maintain transplant tolerance.
Understanding the relationships among immune cells in the setting of immunologic tolerance is imperative to maintain organ and tissue transplants. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are responsible for both immune tolerance and immune rejection; however, there is only limited knowledge about the relevance of T and NK cells in tolerance. To address this issue, we explored the possible actions of tolerant T cells on NK cells by the means of mixed lymphocyte co-cultures and NK cytotoxicity assays. We showed that tolerant T cell-induced blockade of the co-stimulatory pathway significantly inhibited NK cell function in vitro regarding antigen-presenting cells. This action was cell-cell-contact dependent. We argue that tolerant T cells and NK cells impart synergistic cooperation to maintain transplant tolerance.
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