| First Author | Kulkarni RR | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Cell Immunol | Volume | 277 |
| Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 33-43 |
| PubMed ID | 22795895 | Mgi Jnum | J:188350 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5440361 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cellimm.2012.06.002 |
| Citation | Kulkarni RR, et al. (2012) Costimulatory activation of murine invariant natural killer T cells by toll-like receptor agonists. Cell Immunol 277(1-2):33-43 |
| abstractText | Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are glycolipid-reactive lymphocytes with anti-microbial properties. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-primed antigen-presenting cells are known to activate iNKT cells, however, the expression and function of TLRs in iNKT cells remain largely unknown. Here, we show that TCR-activation of murine iNKT cells by alpha-GalactosylCeramide (alpha-GalCer) or anti-CD3 antibodies can result in increased expression of TLR genes. TLR3, 5 and 9-mediated costimulation of TCR-preactivated iNKT cells resulted in enhancement of iNKT cell activation, as determined by their cytokine production. Expression of TLR3 and 9 at protein level was also confirmed in TCR-activated iNKT cells. Furthermore, TCR-preactivation followed by TLR9-costimulation of iNKT cells increased their ability to induce maturation of dendritic cells. Thus, our findings show that iNKT cells can up-regulate their TLR expression upon TCR activation and a subsequent TLR-signaling in these cells can lead to their enhanced activation, suggesting a new possible mode of iNKT cell activation. |
