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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Interview: Glycolipid Antigen Presentation by CD1d and the Therapeutic Potential of NKT cell Activation
Published on: December 31, 2007
Physiology and potential application of NKT cells: a minireview
Jiun-Yih Yeh1, Ming-Shien Yen, Wei-Yu Lo
1Department of Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Abstract:
CD1d-restricted T (NKT) cells are potent regulators of autoimmunity, tumor immunity, and transplantation-related immunity. NKT cells are a subset of innate lymphocytes that recognize endogenous or exogenous glycolipids in the context of CD1d molecules. Recent progress in the research of NKT cells has proved that NKT cells function as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity in anticancer immunity. Furthermore, NKT cells also function as a bridge to tolerance or rejection of grafts in organ transplantation. Harnessing the function of NKT cells, and trying to put it into clinical application in the treatment of autoimmune disease, anticancer cell immunotherapy, and organ transplantation are the dreams of immunologists. This minireview will focus on the physiology of NKT cells and potential clinical application.
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