Human natural killer T cells are heterogeneous in their capacity to reprogram their effector functions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of T cells that help potentiate and regulate immune responses. Although human NKT cell subsets with distinct effector functions have been identified, it is unclear whether the effector functions of these subsets are imprinted during development or can be selectively reprogrammed in the periphery.

Results

We found that neonatal NKT cells are predominantly CD4+ and express higher levels of CCR7 and CD62L and lower levels of CD94 and CD161 than adult CD4+ or CD4- NKT cell subsets. Accordingly, neonatal NKT cells were more flexible than adult CD4+ NKT cells in their capacity to acquire Th1- or Th2-like functions upon either cytokine-mediated polarization or ectopic expression of the Th1 or Th2 transcription factors T-bet and G

SUBMITTER: Eger KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1762372 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature