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Harnessing CD1d‐Restricted T Cells toward Antitumor Immunity in Humans
Author(s) -
Neparidze Natalia,
Dhodapkar Madhav V.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04931.x
Subject(s) - natural killer t cell , cd1d , immunology , immune system , biology , context (archaeology) , inflammation , cd1 , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , paleontology
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a distinct subset of T cells that recognize lipid antigens in the context of CD1d molecules. There is a considerable body of evidence implicating a role for NKT cells in regulating antitumor immunity in mice. α‐Galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer) is a potent agonist ligand for type I NKT cells. We and others have shown that injection of α‐GalCer‐loaded dendritic cells leads to clear expansion of NKT cells in vivo in cancer patients. Preclinical studies suggest the capacity of thalidomide analogues to enhance ligand‐dependent NKT activation and provide the rationale for combination approaches that are now being designed. Recently, we demonstrated the presence of CD1d‐restricted T cells specific for an inflammation‐associated lipid, lysophosphatidylcholine, in patients with advanced myeloma. These studies suggest that type II NKT cells may play a role in sensing and regulating inflammation. Harnessing CD1d‐restricted T cells in cancer may depend on regulating the balance between type I and II NKT cells and holds promise as a broad strategy for immune therapy of several cancers.