Abstract

CDd-restricted NKT cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes bridging innate and acquired immunity and mediating both effector and regulatory functions in immune responses. NKT cells are essential for the protection against pathogens or tumors, and also play a regulatory role in transplantation tolerance and autoimmune disease development. This review focuses on the various functions of NKT cells and discusses fundamental mechanisms in NKT cell biology.

Keywords: immune system, natural killer (nk) cells, dendritic cells (dcs), lymphocytes, cytokines, transcription