Natural Killer T (NKT) Cells in Autoimmune Hepatitis: Current Evidence from Basic and Clinical Research.
Poddighe D. Maulenkul T. Zhubanova G. Akhmaldtinova L. Dossybayeva K.
December 2023Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Cells
2023#12Issue 24
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are unconventional T cells that are activated by glycolipid antigens. They can produce a variety of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines and, therefore, modulate multiple aspects of the immune response in different pathological settings, including autoimmunity. NKT cells have also been implicated in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis, and in this review we summarize and analyze the main studies investigating the involvement and/or homeostasis of NKT cells in this disease. In detail, the evidence from both basic and clinical research has been specifically analyzed. Even though the experimental murine models supported a relevant role of NKT cells in immune-mediated hepatic injury, very few studies specifically investigated NKT cell homeostasis in patients with autoimmune hepatitis; however, these initial studies reported some alterations of NKT cells in these patients, which may also correlate with the disease activity to some extent. Further clinical studies are needed to investigate the potential role and use of NKT cell analysis as a disease marker of clinical relevance, and to better understand the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms by which NKT cells contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis.
adults , autoimmune hepatitis , children , Concanavalin A , liver inflammation , murine models , natural killer T cells , NKT cells , α-Galactosyl-ceramide
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School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Kerei-Zhanibek Str. 5/1, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Clinical Academic Department of Pediatrics, National Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, University Medical Center, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Medicine
Clinical Academic Department of Pediatrics
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