Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026

In Vivo Augmentation of Gut-Homing Regulatory T Cell Induction
Published on: January 22, 2020
Vitamin D May Increase the Number of CD4-CD8+ NKT-like Cells in Humans-A Novel Insight into Potential
Emilia Adamska-Fita1, Przemysław Wiktor Śliwka1,2, Bartłomiej Stasiak3
1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland.
Abstract:
Background: Vitamin D has a significant role in immune system regulation due to its profound impact on various immune cells, including Natural Killer T-like (NKT-like) cells. While previous studies have explored the effects of vitamin D on the overall NKT-like cell population, detailed investigations into its impact on specific NKT-like subpopulations are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between vitamin D levels and NKT-like cell subpopulations (CD4+CD8+; CD4-CD8+; CD4+CD8-; CD4-CD8-) in peripheral blood collected from patients without diseases that can influence vitamin D and/or calcium levels. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 86 patients. NKT-like cells were separated from PBMCs using a CD3+ CD56+ NKT cell isolation kit and a magnetic bead separator. Flow cytometry (FC) was applied in order to evaluate the distribution of NKT-like cell subpopulations. Results: A significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and the CD4-CD8+ NKT-like cell population, particularly the CD4-CD8high subtype was found. Importantly, this correlation was independent of calcium levels, emphasizing the unique impact of vitamin D on CD4-CD8+ NKT-like cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that vitamin D concentrations may influence the distribution of NKT-like cell subpopulations in peripheral blood, although further evidence is necessary to confirm this observation. These novel results provide a foundation for elucidating the mechanism underlying the effect of vitamin D on the immune system and may contribute to future therapeutic strategies targeting CD4-CD8+ NKT-like cells in immune and oncological disorders.
More Related Videos
11:34A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes
Published on: April 11, 2025
10:46A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...