scholarly journals Targeting Natural Killer T Cells in Solid Malignancies

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1329
Author(s):  
Zewde Ingram ◽  
Shriya Madan ◽  
Jenoy Merchant ◽  
Zakiya Carter ◽  
Zen Gordon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Class I Mhc ◽  
Effector Functions ◽  
Natural Killer T

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes that recognize lipid antigens in the context of the non-classical class I MHC molecule, CD1d, and serve as a link between the innate and adaptive immune system through their expeditious release of cytokines. Whereas NKT have well-established roles in mitigating a number of human diseases, herein, we focus on their role in cancer. NKT cells have been shown to directly and indirectly mediate anti-tumor immunity and manipulating their effector functions can have therapeutic significances in treatment of cancer. In this review, we highlight several therapeutic strategies that have been used to harness the effector functions of NKT cells to target different types of solid tumors. We also discuss several barriers to the successful utilization of NKT cells and summarize effective strategies being developed to harness the unique strengths of this potent population of T cells. Collectively, studies investigating the therapeutic potential of NKT cells serve not only to advance our understanding of this powerful immune cell subset, but also pave the way for future treatments focused on the modulation of NKT cell responses to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Type I Natural Killer T Cells as Key Regulators of the Immune Response to Infectious Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. e00232-20
Author(s):  
Nicolás M. S. Gálvez ◽  
Karen Bohmwald ◽  
Gaspar A. Pacheco ◽  
Catalina A. Andrade ◽  
Leandro J. Carreño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Interleukin 4 ◽  
Type I ◽  
Inkt Cells ◽  
Class I Mhc ◽  
Natural Killer T

SUMMARYThe immune system must work in an orchestrated way to achieve an optimal response upon detection of antigens. The cells comprising the immune response are traditionally divided into two major subsets, innate and adaptive, with particular characteristics for each type. Type I natural killer T (iNKT) cells are defined as innate-like T cells sharing features with both traditional adaptive and innate cells, such as the expression of an invariant T cell receptor (TCR) and several NK receptors. The invariant TCR in iNKT cells interacts with CD1d, a major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-like molecule. CD1d can bind and present antigens of lipid nature and induce the activation of iNKT cells, leading to the secretion of various cytokines, such as gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). These cytokines will aid in the activation of other immune cells following stimulation of iNKT cells. Several molecules with the capacity to bind to CD1d have been discovered, including α-galactosylceramide. Likewise, several molecules have been synthesized that are capable of polarizing iNKT cells into different profiles, either pro- or anti-inflammatory. This versatility allows NKT cells to either aid or impair the clearance of pathogens or to even control or increase the symptoms associated with pathogenic infections. Such diverse contributions of NKT cells to infectious diseases are supported by several publications showing either a beneficial or detrimental role of these cells during diseases. In this article, we discuss current data relative to iNKT cells and their features, with an emphasis on their driving role in diseases produced by pathogenic agents in an organ-oriented fashion.

scholarly journals Linking CD11b+Dendritic Cells and Natural Killer T Cells to Plaque Inflammation in Atherosclerosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miche Rombouts ◽  
Rachid Ammi ◽  
Ilse Van Brussel ◽  
Lynn Roth ◽  
Benedicte Y. De Winter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Atherosclerotic Lesion ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Markers Of Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Status ◽  
Plaque Inflammation ◽  
Natural Killer T

Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death and disability in our Western society. To investigate whether the dynamics of leukocyte (sub)populations could be predictive for plaque inflammation during atherosclerosis, we analyzed innate and adaptive immune cell distributions in blood, plaques, and lymphoid tissue reservoirs in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice and in blood and plaques from patients undergoing endarterectomy. Firstly, there was predominance of the CD11b+conventional dendritic cell (cDC) subset in the plaque. Secondly, a strong inverse correlation was observed between CD11b+cDC or natural killer T (NKT) cells in blood and markers of inflammation in the plaque (including CD3, T-bet, CCR5, and CCR7). This indicates that circulating CD11b+cDC and NKT cells show great potential to reflect the inflammatory status in the atherosclerotic plaque. Our results suggest that distinct changes in inflammatory cell dynamics may carry biomarker potential reflecting atherosclerotic lesion progression. This not only is crucial for a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis but also bares therapeutic potential, since immune cell-based therapies are emerging as a promising novel strategy in the battle against atherosclerosis and its associated comorbidities. The cDC-NKT cell interaction in atherosclerosis serves as a good candidate for future investigations.

scholarly journals Mechanisms imposing the Vβ bias of Vα14 natural killer T cells and consequences for microbial glycolipid recognition

2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197-1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Datsen G. Wei ◽  
Shane A. Curran ◽  
Paul B. Savage ◽  
Luc Teyton ◽  
Albert Bendelac
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Cell Repertoire ◽  
Transgenic Cells ◽  
Α Chain ◽  
Natural Killer T

Mouse and human natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize a restricted set of glycosphingolipids presented by CD1d molecules, including self iGb3 and microbial α-glycuronosylceramides. The importance of the canonical Vα14-Jα18 TCR α chain for antigen recognition by NKT cells is well recognized, but the mechanisms underlying the Vβ8, Vβ7, and Vβ2 bias in mouse have not been explored. To study the influences of thymic selection and the constraints of pairing with Vα14-Jα18, we have created a population of mature T cells expressing Vα14-Jα18 TCR α chain in CD1d-deficient mice and studied its recognition properties in vitro and in vivo. Transgenic cells expressed a diverse Vβ repertoire but their recognition of endogenous ligands and synthetic iGb3 was restricted to the same biased Vβ repertoire as expressed in natural NKT cells. In contrast, α-GalCer, a synthetic homologue of microbial α-glycuronosylceramides, was recognized by a broader set of Vβ chains, including the biased NKT set but also Vβ6, Vβ9, Vβ10, and Vβ14. These surprising findings demonstrate that, whereas Vβ8, Vβ7, and Vβ2 represent the optimal solution for recognition of endogenous ligand, many Vβ chains that are potentially useful for the recognition of foreign lipids fail to be selected in the NKT cell repertoire.

scholarly journals Natural Killer Dendritic Cells Enhance Immune Responses Elicited byα-Galactosylceramide-Stimulated Natural Killer T Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Won Lee ◽  
Hyun Jung Park ◽  
Nayoung Kim ◽  
Seokmann Hong
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Tumor Antigens ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Innate Immune Cells ◽  
Natural Killer T

Natural killer dendritic cells (NKDCs) possess potent anti-tumor activity, but the cellular effect of NKDC interactions with other innate immune cells is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction of NKDCs and natural killer T (NKT) cells is required for the anti-tumor immune responses that are elicited byα-galactosylceramide (α-GC) in mice. The rapid and strong expression of interferon-γby NKDCs afterα-GC stimulation was dependent on NKT cells. Various NK and DC molecular markers and cytotoxic molecules were up-regulated followingα-GC administration. This up-regulation could improve NKDC presentation of tumor antigens and increase cytotoxicity against tumor cells. NKDCs were required for the stimulation of DCs, NK cells, and NKT cells. The strong anti-tumor immune responses elicited byα-GC may be due to the down-regulation of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, the depletion of NKDCs dampened the tumor clearance mediated byα-GC-stimulated NKT cellsin vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that complex interactions of innate immune cells might be required to achieve optimal anti-tumor immune responses during the early stages of tumorigenesis.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Innate Lymphoid Cell and Natural Killer T Cell Activation during Mucosal Inflammation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Nau ◽  
Nora Altmayer ◽  
Jochen Mattner
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
Mucosal Inflammation ◽  
Natural Killer T

Mucosal surfaces in the airways and the gastrointestinal tract are critical for the interactions of the host with its environment. Due to their abundance at mucosal tissue sites and their powerful immunomodulatory capacities, the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and natural killer T (NKT) cells in the maintenance of mucosal tolerance has recently moved into the focus of attention. While NKT cells as well as ILCs utilize distinct transcription factors for their development and lineage diversification, both cell populations can be further divided into three polarized subpopulations reflecting the distinction into Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells in the adaptive immune system. While bystander activation through cytokines mediates the induction of ILC and NKT cell responses, NKT cells become activated also through the engagement of their canonical T cell receptors (TCRs) by (glyco)lipid antigens (cognate recognition) presented by the atypical MHC I like molecule CD1d on antigen presenting cells (APCs). As both innate lymphocyte populations influence inflammatory responses due to the explosive release of copious amounts of different cytokines, they might represent interesting targets for clinical intervention. Thus, we will provide an outlook on pathways that might be interesting to evaluate in this context.

Participatory role of natural killer and natural killer T cells in atherosclerosis: lessons learned from in vivo mouse studiesThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stewart C. Whitman ◽  
Tanya A. Ramsamy
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Natural Killer T

Atherosclerosis is a multifactor, highly complex disease with numerous aetiologies that work synergistically to promote lesion development. One of the emerging components that drive the development of both early- and late-stage atherosclerotic lesions is the participation of both the innate and acquired immune systems. In both humans and animal models of atherosclerosis, the most prominent cells that infiltrate evolving lesions are macrophages and T lymphocytes. The functional loss of either of these cell types reduces the extent of atherosclerosis in mice that were rendered susceptible to the disease by deficiency of either apolipoprotein E or the LDL (low density lipoprotein) receptor. In addition to these major immune cell participants, a number of less prominent leukocyte populations that can modulate the atherogenic process are also involved. This review will focus on the participatory role of two “less prominent” immune components, namely natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells. Although this review will highlight the fact that both NK and NKT cells are not sufficient for causing the disease, the roles played by both these cells types are becoming increasingly important in understanding the complexity of this disease process.

scholarly journals Low doses of natural killer T cells provide protection from acute graft-versus-host disease via an IL-4–dependent mechanism

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (11) ◽  
pp. 3220-3229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis B. Leveson-Gower ◽  
Janelle A. Olson ◽  
Emanuela I. Sega ◽  
Richard H. Luong ◽  
Jeanette Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Gastrointestinal Pathology ◽  
Dependent Mechanism ◽  
Natural Killer T

Abstract CD4+ natural killer T (NKT) cells, along with CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), are capable of controlling aberrant immune reactions. We explored the adoptive transfer of highly purified (> 95%) CD4+NKT cells in a murine model of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). NKT cells follow a migration and proliferation pattern similar to that of conventional T cells (Tcons), migrating initially to secondary lymphoid organs followed by infiltration of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) target tissues. NKT cells persist for more than 100 days and do not cause significant morbidity or mortality. Doses of NKT cells as low as 1.0 × 104 cells suppress GVHD caused by 5.0 × 105 Tcons in an interleukin-4 (IL-4)–dependent mechanism. Protective doses of NKT cells minimally affect Tcon proliferation, but cause significant reductions in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production by donor Tcons and in skin, spleen, and gastrointestinal pathology. In addition, NKT cells do not impact the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect of Tcons against B-cell lymphoma-1 (BCL-1) tumors. These studies elucidate the biologic function of donor-type CD4+NKT cells in suppressing GVHD in an allogeneic transplantation setting, demonstrating clinical potential in reducing GVHD in HCT.

scholarly journals Natural killer T cells in lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 814-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfrey Getz ◽  
Paul VanderLaan ◽  
Catherine Reardon
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Disorder ◽  
Chronic Inflammatory Disorder ◽  
Invariant Nkt Cells ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Natural Killer T

SummaryCells of both the innate and adaptive immune system participate in the development of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disorder of medium and large arteries. Natural killer T (NKT) cells express surface markers characteristic of natural killer cells and conventional T cells and bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. The development and activation of NKT cells is dependent upon CD1d, a MHC-class I-type molecule that presents lipids, especially glycolipids to the T cell receptors on NKT cells. There are two classes of NKT cells; invariant NKT cells that express a semi-invariant T cell receptor and variant NKT cells. This review summarises studies in murine models in which the effect of the activation, overexpression or deletion of NKT cells or only invariant NKT cells on atherosclerosis has been examined.

scholarly journals Natural Killer T Cell Ligand α-Galactosylceramide Enhances Protective Immunity Induced by Malaria Vaccines

2002 ◽  
Vol 195 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza ◽  
Luc Van Kaer ◽  
Cornelia C. Bergmann ◽  
James M. Wilson ◽  
John Schmieg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Nkt Cells ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Natural Killer T

The important role played by CD8+ T lymphocytes in the control of parasitic and viral infections, as well as tumor development, has raised the need for the development of adjuvants capable of enhancing cell-mediated immunity. It is well established that protective immunity against liver stages of malaria parasites is primarily mediated by CD8+ T cells in mice. Activation of natural killer T (NKT) cells by the glycolipid ligand, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), causes bystander activation of NK, B, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Our study shows that coadministration of α-GalCer with suboptimal doses of irradiated sporozoites or recombinant viruses expressing a malaria antigen greatly enhances the level of protective anti-malaria immunity in mice. We also show that coadministration of α-GalCer with various different immunogens strongly enhances antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, and to a lesser degree, Th1-type responses. The adjuvant effects of α-GalCer require CD1d molecules, Vα14 NKT cells, and interferon γ. As α-GalCer stimulates both human and murine NKT cells, these findings should contribute to the design of more effective vaccines against malaria and other intracellular pathogens, as well as tumors.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document