NKT细胞在动脉粥样硬化中的作用

然杀伤T细胞（natural killer T cell,NKT细胞）是一种特殊的淋巴细胞亚群,具有部分T细胞和NK细胞的特征。与这些细胞不同的是,NKT细胞不仅能够识别醣脂类抗原,还在激活后产生促炎症因子和抗炎症因子。由于这些特性,NKT细胞在炎症和免疫方面的研究越来越热。动脉粥样硬化是一种受免疫调节的炎性疾病,因此对NKT细胞在该疾病中作用的研究也逐渐开展起来。     

自然杀伤细胞和自然杀伤T细胞在动脉粥样硬化形成中的作用

动脉粥样硬化发生发展与免疫细胞参与的免疫反应密切相关,其中自然杀伤细胞主要是通过释放IFN-γ、穿孔素和颗粒酶等方式发挥生物学作用,自然杀伤T细胞通过释放多种细胞因子影响动脉粥样硬化形成,但其具体机制未明。本文就自然杀伤细胞和自然杀伤T细胞对动脉粥样硬化的影响做一综述,为动脉粥样硬化及其相关疾病的防治研究提供新的思路。     

调节性T细胞在动脉粥样硬化发病中的作用

CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞（CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg）是一个具有独特免疫调节功能的T细胞亚群,它不仅抑制自身免疫性疾病的发生,而且可能参与诱导移植耐受以及肿瘤免疫调节,在维持机体内环境稳态中起重要作用。本文综述了CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞的特点和调节机制,以及在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的可能作用。最新研究提示其可能是机体内源性有效的抑制动脉粥样硬化的因子。这些研究成果为理解动脉粥样硬化的免疫病理机制提供了新的观点,并可能为应用调节性T细胞作为靶点,寻找治疗动脉粥样硬化的免疫调节制剂提供新的策略。     

NK细胞和NKT细胞发育的转录调控

自然杀伤（natural killer,NK）细胞和自然杀伤T（natural killer T,NKT）细胞是参与机体抗病毒免疫和肿瘤免疫的两群淋巴细胞亚群,是介导先天性免疫（innate immunity）应答和调节适应性免疫（adaptive immunity）应答的重要效应细胞。近年来,随着对NK细胞和NKT细胞及其转录调控因子研究的不断深入,NK细胞和NKT细胞的发育机制逐步被阐明,这将为提高NK细胞和NKT细胞的抗病毒和肿瘤免疫疗效提供新的策略。     

血管平滑肌细胞在动脉粥样硬化中的作用

动脉粥样硬化的发生发展是一个复杂的过程,涉及到多种细胞及细胞因子的相互作用.平滑肌细胞作为血管壁的重要成分,调节着血管的收缩舒张功能,同时也分泌多种细胞因子及细胞间质;它的生物学行为对动脉粥样硬化的发生、发展及最终的结局产生着重要的影响.本文就平滑肌细胞的生物学行为的变化及其在动脉粥样硬化的不同发展阶段的作用进行综述.     

细胞焦亡在动脉粥样硬化中的作用CSCD

动脉粥样硬化是脂代谢紊乱和炎症共同作用的结果,在动脉粥样硬化中可以观察到细胞死亡,并且在动脉粥样硬化病变的发生发展中起重要作用。炎症是先天免疫的主要反应,被认为是动脉粥样硬化的启动者和驱动者。尽管大量研究揭示了凋亡、自噬和细胞坏死在动脉粥样硬化中的作用,但参与动脉粥样硬化的细胞死亡机制仍然在很大程度上是未知的。细胞焦亡是新近发现的一种程序性细胞死亡方式,其通过促使炎性因子释放而参与动脉粥样硬化的形成与进展,并与斑块的稳定性密切相关。本文就细胞焦亡在动脉粥样硬化中的作用作一综述。     

自然杀伤T细胞抗感染作用的研究进展

自然杀伤T细胞(NKT细胞)是一类与自然杀伤细胞具有共同表面标记的T细胞,可识别由CD1d呈递的糖脂类抗原。活化后的NKT细胞通过分泌多种细胞因子和趋化因子,增强树突细胞(DC)、T细胞、B细胞等多种免疫细胞的功能,在非特异与特异性免疫之间起桥梁作用。近年来研究发现,NKT细胞不仅在抗细菌感染中发挥重要作用,在抗病毒及抗寄生虫感染中也发挥一定作用。     

LAK细胞

一、LAK细胞的概念 1980年Rosenberg等首先观察到荷有甲基胆蒽纤维肉瘤的C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞经含有IL-2的培液培养后,可获得较强的抗自身甲基胆蒽纤维肉瘤的细胞毒作用,而对自身正常细胞无杀伤作用,未经IL-2培养的脾细胞或NK细胞对纤维肉瘤无杀伤活性。1982年Grimm等首次提出将这种由IL-2激活的能够杀伤NK抵抗性肿瘤细胞的杀伤细胞称为淋巴因子激活的杀伤细胞(Lymphokine-activated killer cells)简称LAK细胞。脾脏细胞、淋巴结细胞、外周血淋巴细胞(PBL)均可经IL-2诱导出显著的     

NKT cells in HIV-1 infection

Natural killer T （NKT） cells are a unique T cell population that have important immunoregulatory functions and have been shown to be involved in host immunity against a range of microorganisms. It also emerges that they might play a role in HIV-1 infection, and therefore be selectively depleted during the early stages of infection. Recent studies are reviewed regarding the dynamics of NKT depletion during HIV-1 infection and their recovery under highly active antiretroviral treatment （HAART）. Possible mechanisms for these changes are proposed based on the recent developments in HIV pathogenesis. Further discussions are focused on HIV＇s disruption of NKT activation by downregulating CDld expression on antigen presentation cells （APC）. HIV-1 protein Nefis found to play the major role by interrupting the intracellular trafficking of nascent and recycling CDld molecules.     

人FGF-1对免疫系统的影响

酸性成纤维细胞生长因子 (acidfibroblastgrowthfactor,aFGF或FGF-1 )是成纤维细胞生长因子家族成员之一 ,是一种重要的生长因子。人FGF 1 (FGF-1 )是一个 1 7～ 1 8kDa的非糖基化多肽 ,三胚层来源的细胞都可以表达。FGF-1的生物学效应非常广泛 ,在组织和器官发育、血管发生、血细胞生成、肿瘤发生、伤口愈合等方面发挥重要的作用。FGF-1对人体的免疫系统也有重要的影响 ,能提高多种刺激诱导的T细胞增殖、凋亡及细胞因子的产生。主要概述了FGF-1的生物学效应、对免疫系统的影响及其潜在的临床应用价值。     

NKT ligand-loaded, antigen-expressing B cells function as long-lasting antigen presenting cells in vivo

We had previously shown that activated NKT cells licensed B cells to be immunogenic antigen-presenting cells and helped to elicit a wide spectrum of cancer targeted immune responses. In the current study, we sought to verify the safety of αGalCer-loaded, and adenovirus-transduced B cell-based vaccines, together with mechanism of action. Intravenously injected αGalCer-loaded, antigen-expressing B cells rapidly localized in the spleen and directly primed CD8⁺ T cells in an antigen-specific manner. The transferred antigen was sustained for at least 30 days. While some injected B cells produced nonspecific IgG, the antigen-specific IgG response was completely dependent on endogenous B cells. The liver was one of the main tissues where injected B cells were retained; however, we could not find the signs of liver toxicity. Our results demonstrate that αGalCer-loaded, antigen-expressing B cells behave as “antigen-presenting” cells that stimulate endogenous antigen-specific T cells and B cells in vivo without significant toxicity.     

Unique sensitivity to alpha-galactosylceramide of NKT cells in the uterus

It was previously reported that NKT cells, which are mainly present in the liver of mice, are also present in the uterus and that these uterine NKT cells are associated with abortion under overactivated conditions. In this study, we further examined their phenotypic and functional properties. In parallel with the progression of pregnancy, the number of uterine lymphocytes increased. This increase accompanied an increase in the number of TCRalphabeta(+) T cells and NKT cells in the uterus, although the number of NKT cells decreased at late pregnancy. Approximately one-third of the TCRalphabeta(+) cells were NKT cells at the early pregnant stage, while this ratio decreased toward late pregnancy. These uterine NKT cells were found to respond to alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) differently in comparison with liver NKT cells. In contrast to the apoptotic response of liver NKT cells on day 1 after alpha-GalCer injection, uterine NKT cells expanded prominently without such apoptosis. The majority of liver NKT cells were CD4(+). In contrast, almost all of the uterine NKT cells were double negative CD4(-)8(-). However, similar to liver NKT cells, uterine NKT cells used an invariant chain of Valpha14Jalpha281 gene for TCRalpha. The resistance against apoptosis might be due to the high expression of bcl-2 on uterine NKT cells after alpha-GalCer activation. Other evidence was that macrophages which existed in the pregnant uterus carried an activation marker, CD69, and could potentially produce many cytokines by their activation. The present results suggest that uterine NKT cells and surrounding macrophages are quite different in function from those in the liver.     

Murine NKT cells produce Th17 cytokine interleukin-22

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to produce Th17 cytokine IL-17 in addition to Th1/2 cytokines. In this study, the ability of NKT cells to produce IL-22, another Th17 cytokine, was examined in mice. When murine spleen cells were stimulated with α-galactosyl ceramide, a ligand for NKT cells, not only Th1/2 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4) but Th17 cytokines (IL-17, IL-22) were produced. NKT cells isolated from splenocytes released IL-17 and IL-22 following CD3, CD3/IL-2 or CD3/CD28 stimulation, in which CD3/CD28 costimulation was most effective. Production of IL-17 and IL-22 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from splenocytes was little, if any, even after CD3/CD28 costimulation. Treatment with IL-6/TGF-β decreased CD3/CD28-stimulated production of IL-22, but not that of IL-17, in NKT cells. These findings show for the first time that NKT cells are a cell source of IL-22, and that expression of two Th17 cytokines might be regulated in NKT cells by different mechanisms.     

The location of splenic NKT cells favours their rapid activation by blood-borne antigen

Natural killer T (NKT) cells play an important role in mounting protective responses to blood-borne infections. However, though the spleen is the largest blood filter in the body, the distribution and dynamics of NKT cells within this organ are not well characterized. Here we show that the majority of NKT cells patrol around the marginal zone (MZ) and red pulp (RP) of the spleen. In response to lipid antigen, these NKT cells become arrested and rapidly produce cytokines, while the small proportion of NKT cells located in the white pulp (WP) exhibit limited activation. Importantly, disruption of the splenic MZ by chemical or genetic approaches results in a severe reduction in NKT cell activation indicating the need of cooperation between both MZ macrophages and dendritic cells for efficient NKT cell responses. Thus, the location of splenic NKT cells in the MZ and RP facilitates their access to blood-borne antigen and enables the rapid initiation of protective immune responses.     

NK and NKT cell functions in immunosenescence

Immunosenescence is defined as the state of dysregulated immune function that contributes to the increased susceptibility to infection, cancer and autoimmune diseases observed in old organisms, including humans. However, dysregulations in the immune functions are normally counterbalanced by continuous adaptation of the body to the deteriorations that occur over time. These adaptive changes are likely to occur in healthy human centenarians. Both innate (natural) and adaptive (acquired) immune responses decline with advancing age. Natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells represent the best model to describe innate and adaptive immune response in aging. NK and NKT cell cytotoxicity decreases in aging as well as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by both activated cell types. Their innate and acquired immune responses are preserved in very old age. However, NKT cells bearing T-cell receptor (TCR) gammadelta also display an increased cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production in very old age. This fact suggests that NKT cells bearing TCRgammadelta are more involved in maintaining innate and adaptive immune response in aging leading to successful aging. The role played by the neuroendocrine-immune network and by nutritional factors, such as zinc, in maintaining NK and NKT cell functions in aging is discussed.