The Role of Natural Killer T Cells in Host Defense to Cryptococcal Infection. A Bridge from Innate to Acquired Immunity.

Accession number;02A0650986
Title;The Role of Natural Killer T Cells in Host Defense to Cryptococcal Infection. A Bridge from Innate to Acquired Immunity.
Author; KAWAKAMI KAZUYOSHI (Univ. of Ryukyus)
Journal Title;Japanese Journal of Medical Mycology
Journal Code:G0589A
ISSN:0916-4804
VOL.43;NO.3;PAGE.137-141(2002)
Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.4, TBL.1, REF.19
Pub. Country;Japan
Language;Japanese
Abstract;Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infectious pathogen in immunocompromised patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hematological malignancies. The host defense to this pathogen is mediated mostly by cellular immunity. Th1-type cytokines including IFN-.GAMMA., IL-12 and IL-18 play a pivotal role in this process. Recently, innate immunity mediated by NK, NKT and .GAMMA..DELTA.T cells has garnered much attention from investigators. NKT cell has been identified as a particular cell population which recognizes glycolipids and participates in the development of tumor immunity and autoimmune diseases. In the present review, the accumulating knowledge on the roles of NKT cells in host defense to infectious pathogens are summarized with our own data on cryptococcal infection. (author abst.)
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