The Role of Natural Killer T Cells in Acute Kidney Injury: Angel or Evil?

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2017;18(12):1200-1204. doi: 10.2174/1389203717666160909151725.

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is manifested by inflammation, and an early feature in the pathogenesis is the accumulation of immune cells in the kidney. Natural killer T (NKT) cells, a peculiar T cells subtype, serve as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Due to the difference between type I and type II subsets, NKT cells were supposed to play a dual role in IR-related tissue injury. Furthermore, membrane receptors and clinical immunosuppressive agents remain involved in the modulation of NKT cell function. Therefore, regulation of the amount and viability of NKT cells becomes a potential strategy in amelioration of AKI. This review will highlight the recent insights gained into the role and mechanisms of NKT cells in AKI.

Keywords: NKT cells; acute kidney injury; angel or evil; immunity; inflammation; pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / drug therapy
  • Acute Kidney Injury / genetics
  • Acute Kidney Injury / immunology*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / pathology
  • Adaptive Immunity / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD1d / genetics
  • Antigens, CD1d / immunology*
  • Cell Lineage / drug effects
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology*
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Interleukins / immunology*
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / classification
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / drug effects
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology*
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / classification
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • Interleukins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Interferon-gamma