scholarly journals Frequency and Phenotype of Circulating Vα24/Vβ11 Double-Positive Natural Killer T Cells during Hepatitis C Virus Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 2251-2257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Lucas ◽  
Stephan Gadola ◽  
Ute Meier ◽  
Neil T. Young ◽  
Gillian Harcourt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Natural Killer T Cells ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Nkt Cell ◽  
Killer T Cells ◽  
Natural Killer T

ABSTRACT Natural killer T (NKT) cells are thought to be involved in innate responses against infection. We investigated one specific type of NKT cell, Vα24/Vβ11 double positive, in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Lower frequencies of this population were detected in the blood of HCV PCR-positive patients than in controls. Unlike Vα24/Vβ11 NKT cells found in blood, those in the liver appeared to be recently activated.

scholarly journals Co-accumulation of Dendritic Cells and Natural Killer T Cells within Rupture-prone Regions in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri V. Bobryshev ◽  
Reginald S.A. Lord
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Natural Killer T Cells ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Atherosclerotic Plaques ◽  
Lipid Antigens ◽  
Atherosclerotic Lesions ◽  
Killer T Cells ◽  
Natural Killer T

We previously reported that CD1d, a molecule responsible for the presentation of lipid antigens, is expressed in atherosclerotic lesions and that its expression is restricted to dendritic cells. Recent studies demonstrating that CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells are involved in atherogenesis prompted the present study investigating whether NKT cells are present in human atherosclerotic lesions and, if so, whether there is an association between NKT cells and dendritic cells. We found that NKT cells do accumulate in rupture-prone shoulders of atherosclerotic plaques and observed direct contacts of dendritic cells with NKT cells in rupture-prone regions of plaque.

scholarly journals Ozone exposure in a mouse model induces airway hyperreactivity that requires the presence of natural killer T cells and IL-17

2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Pichavant ◽  
Sho Goya ◽  
Everett H. Meyer ◽  
Richard A. Johnston ◽  
Hye Y. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Airway Hyperreactivity ◽  
Ozone Exposure ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nkt Cell ◽  
Killer T Cells ◽  
Cardinal Feature ◽  
Natural Killer T

Exposure to ozone, which is a major component of air pollution, induces a form of asthma that occurs in the absence of adaptive immunity. Although ozone-induced asthma is characterized by airway neutrophilia, and not eosinophilia, it is nevertheless associated with airway hyperreactivity (AHR), which is a cardinal feature of asthma. Because AHR induced by allergens requires the presence of natural killer T (NKT) cells, we asked whether ozone-induced AHR had similar requirements. We found that repeated exposure of wild-type (WT) mice to ozone induced severe AHR associated with an increase in airway NKT cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Surprisingly, NKT cell–deficient (CD1d−/− and Jα18−/−) mice failed to develop ozone-induced AHR. Further, treatment of WT mice with an anti-CD1d mAb blocked NKT cell activation and prevented ozone-induced AHR. Moreover, ozone-induced, but not allergen-induced, AHR was associated with NKT cells producing interleukin (IL)-17, and failed to occur in IL-17−/− mice nor in WT mice treated with anti–IL-17 mAb. Thus, ozone exposure induces AHR that requires the presence of NKT cells and IL-17 production. Because NKT cells are required for the development of two very disparate forms of AHR (ozone- and allergen-induced), our results strongly suggest that NKT cells mediate a unifying pathogenic mechanism for several distinct forms of asthma, and represent a unique target for effective asthma therapy.

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