Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Cancer & Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Immunotherapy. 2011 Oct;3(10):1167-84. doi: 10.2217/imt.11.117.
NKT cells are a heterogeneous subset of specialized, self-reactive T cells, with innate and adaptive immune properties, which allow them to bridge innate and adaptive immunity and profoundly influence autoimmune and malignant disease outcomes. NKT cells mediate these activities through their ability to rapidly express pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that influence the type and magnitude of the immune response. Not only do NKT cells regulate the functions of other cell types, but experimental evidence has found NKT cell subsets can modulate the functions of other NKT subsets. Depending on underlying mechanisms, NKT cells can inhibit or exacerbate autoimmunity and malignancy, making them potential targets for disease intervention. NKT cells can respond to foreign and endogenous antigenic glycolipid signals that are expressed during pathogenic invasion or ongoing inflammation, respectively, allowing them to rapidly react to and influence a broad array of diseases. In this article we review the unique development and activation pathways of NKT cells and focus on how these attributes augment or exacerbate autoimmune disorders and malignancy. We also examine the growing evidence that NKT cells are involved in liver inflammatory conditions that can contribute to the development of malignancy.
自然杀伤 T（NKT）细胞是一类具有先天和适应性免疫特性的、高度异质性的特异性自身反应性 T 细胞亚群，能够连接先天免疫和适应性免疫，并深刻影响自身免疫性和恶性疾病的结局。NKT 细胞通过快速表达影响免疫反应类型和强度的促炎和抗炎细胞因子来介导这些活性。NKT 细胞不仅调节其他细胞类型的功能，而且实验证据还发现 NKT 细胞亚群可以调节其他 NKT 亚群的功能。根据潜在机制，NKT 细胞可抑制或加重自身免疫和恶性肿瘤，使其成为疾病干预的潜在靶点。NKT 细胞可分别对外源和内源性抗原性糖脂信号做出反应，这些信号分别在病原体入侵或持续炎症期间表达，从而使它们能够快速反应并影响广泛的疾病。本文综述了 NKT 细胞独特的发育和激活途径，并重点关注这些特性如何增强或加重自身免疫性疾病和恶性肿瘤。我们还研究了越来越多的证据表明，NKT 细胞参与肝脏炎症性疾病的发生，这些疾病可能导致恶性肿瘤的发展。
