Dysregulation of CD1d-restricted type ii natural killer T cells leads to spontaneous development of colitis in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

CD1d-restricted natural killer (NK) T cells are a subset of immunoregulatory T cells that comprise type I (express the semi-invariant T-cell receptor [TCR] and can be detected using the α-galactosylceramide/CD1d tetramer) and type II (express diverse TCRs and cannot be directly identified). Studies in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease revealed a complex role for type I NKT cells in the development of colitis. Type II NKT cells have been associated with intestinal inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods

To investigate whether dysregulation of type II NKT cells, caused by increased expression of CD1d, can contribute to colitis, we generated transgenic mice that express high levels of CD1d and a TCR from an autoreactive, type II NKT

SUBMITTER: Liao CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3267843 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature