Natural killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes that were first described in the late 1980s. Since their initial description, numerous studies have collectively shed light on their development and effector function. These studies have highlighted the unique requirements for the activation of these lymphocytes and the functional responses that distinguish these cells from other effector...

Two natural killer T (NKT)-cell hybridomas were established by fusing sorted NKT cells with BW1100 thymoma cells. The first hybridoma line, 1B6, was CD4(+)8(-), whereas the second one, 2E10, was CD4(low)8(-). Initial characterizations revealed that both cell lines expressed an invariant T cell antigen receptor, which could be readily detected with alpha-galactosylceramide-loaded CD1d : Ig fusio...

Natural killer T (NKT) cells that express the semi-invariant T-cell receptor are innate-like lymphocytes whose functions are controlled by self and foreign glycolipid ligands. Such ligands are presented by the antigen-presenting, MHC class I-like molecule CD1d, which belongs to a family of lipid antigen-presenting molecules collectively called CD1. Activation of NKT cells in vivo results in rap...

The roles of natural killer (NK)T cells in intestinal immunity have not been sufficiently investigated. The bowel possesses its own unique mucosal immune system, the gut-associated lymphoepithelial tract (GALT). In this review, we focused on CD1d-independent invariant type NKT (iNKT) cells as modulators of GALT. iNKT cells have a restricted invariant T-cell receptor (TCR) Vα24 chain paired with...

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are activated by lipid antigens presented by CD1d molecules and represent a major lymphocyte subset of the liver. NODc3c4 mice spontaneously develop biliary inflammation in extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts. We demonstrated by flow cytometry that invariant NKT (iNKT) cells were more abundant in the thymus, spleen, and liver of NODc3c4 mice compared to NOD mice. iNK...

Valpha14 NKT cells produce large amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4 upon recognition of their specific ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) by their invariant TCR. We show here that NKT cells constitutively express CD28, and that blockade of CD28-CD80/CD86 interactions by anti-CD80 and anti-CD86 mAbs inhibits the alpha-GalCer-induced IFN-gamma and IL-4 production by splenic Valpha14 NKT ce...

Non-conventional T lymphocytes constitute a special arm of the immune system and act as sentinels against pathogens at mucosal surfaces. These non-conventional T cells (including mucosal-associated invariant T [MAIT] cells, gamma delta [γδ] T cells, and natural killer T [NKT] cells) display several innate cell-like features and are rapidly activated by the recognition of conserved, stress-induc...

Natural killer T-cells are a subset of innate-like T-cells with the ability to bridge innate and adaptive immunity. There is great interest in harnessing these cells to improve tumor therapy; however, greater understanding of invariant NKT (iNKT) cell biology is needed. The first step is to learn more about NKT development within the thymus. Recent studies suggest lineage separation of murine i...