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Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a small subset of T lymphocytes that express both activating T cell receptors and inhibitory NK cell receptors. In a Perspective, MacDonald discusses intriguing new findings published here (Benlagha et al.) and elsewhere, that identify an early NKT cell precursor in the thymus that expresses the T cell receptor but not NK cell receptors, yet can give rise to NKT cells that express both.
The author is at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Chemin des Boveresses 155, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. E-mail: hughrobson.macdonald{at}isrec.unil.ch
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In Science Magazine
REPORTS
Kamel Benlagha, Tim Kyin, Andrew Beavis, Luc Teyton, and Albert Bendelac (19 April 2002) Science296 (5567), 553.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.1069017] |Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Commitment toward the natural T (iNKT) cell lineage occurs at the CD4+8+ stage of thymic ontogeny.
J. S. Bezbradica, T. Hill, A. K. Stanic, L. Van Kaer, and S. Joyce (2005)
PNAS
102, 5114-5119
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Human Invariant V{alpha}24-J{alpha}Q TCR Supports the Development of CD1d-Dependent NK1.1+ and NK1.1- T Cells in Transgenic Mice.
M. Capone, D. Cantarella, J. Schumann, O. V. Naidenko, C. Garavaglia, F. Beermann, M. Kronenberg, P. Dellabona, H. R. MacDonald, and G. Casorati (2003)
J. Immunol.
170, 2390-2398
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
