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Review
. 2021 Sep 1;22(17):9520.
doi: 10.3390/ijms22179520.

NKT and NKT-like Cells in Autoimmune Neuroinflammatory Diseases-Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Michał K Zarobkiewicz  1 , Izabela Morawska  1 , Adam Michalski  1 , Jacek Roliński  1 , Agnieszka Bojarska-Junak  1
Affiliations
Review

NKT and NKT-like Cells in Autoimmune Neuroinflammatory Diseases-Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Michał K Zarobkiewicz et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

NKT cells comprise three subsets-type I (invariant, iNKT), type II, and NKT-like cells, of which iNKT cells are the most studied subset. They are capable of rapid cytokine production after the initial stimulus, thus they may be important for polarisation of Th cells. Due to this, they may be an important cell subset in autoimmune diseases. In the current review, we are summarising results of NKT-oriented studies in major neurological autoimmune diseases-multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome and their corresponding animal models.

Keywords: EAE; MS; NKT; iNKT; multiple sclerosis; myasthenia gravis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main populations of NKT cells—type I (invariant NKT, iNKT), type II, and NKT-like. APC—antigen-presenting cell, NKT—natural killer T cell.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Major modes of action of iNKT cells in EAE. Red lines are for inhibitory while green ones for promoting interactions. M-MDSC—monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Th—T helper cells, M2 Mφ—M2 macrophages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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