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Purification and Expansion of Mouse Invariant Natural Killer T Cells for in vitro and in vivo Studies
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Invariant natural killer (iNK) T cell deficiency in patients with common variable immunodeficiency

D A Fulcher1, D T Avery, N L Fewings

  • 1Immunology Unit, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia. david_fulcher@wmi.usyd.edu.au

Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|August 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) involves impaired B cell development. This study found fewer invariant NK (iNK) T cells in CVID patients, potentially linking iNK T cell deficiency to reduced antibody production.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary B cell immunodeficiency characterized by impaired antibody production.
  • A definitive cellular pathogenesis for CVID remains elusive.
  • Invariant NK (iNK) T cells play crucial immunoregulatory roles and are absent in certain immunodeficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the proportion of iNK T cells in patients with CVID.
  • To explore the potential relationship between iNK T cell numbers and CVID pathogenesis, specifically memory B cell development and antibody secretion.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of iNK T cells in the peripheral blood of 58 CVID patients and control groups.
  • Subset analysis of iNK T cells based on clinical features and memory B cell levels.

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in the proportion of iNK T cells was observed in CVID patients compared to controls.
  • This decrease was particularly pronounced in CVID patients with low isotype-switched memory B cells.
  • No significant differences in iNK T cell proportions were found when stratified by specific clinical manifestations of CVID.

Conclusions:

  • The diminished proportion of iNK T cells in CVID patients suggests a potential link to the underlying pathophysiology.
  • Reduced iNK T cell numbers may contribute to the observed failure in memory B cell generation and subsequent impaired antibody production in CVID.

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