Sb. Wilson et Mc. Byrne, Gene expression in NKT cells: defining a functionally distinct CD1d-restricted T cell subset, CURR OP IM, 13(5), 2001, pp. 555-561
Since their discovery as cells bearing both TCRs and NK cell receptors, NKT
cells have been intensively studied as a possible bridge between innate an
d adaptive immunity. Although their involvement in a wide variety of immune
responses and in disease states have been well documented, molecular detai
ls of this functionality have been lacking. Recently, transcriptional profi
ling using microarrays has been applied to these cells, pinpointing gene-ex
pression differences between this regulatory T cell subset and conventional
T cells, and providing a framework for subset-specific therapeutic interve
ntion in clinical settings.