Ex-vivo alpha-Galactosylceramide activation of NKT cells in humans and macaques

Caroline S Fernandez; Garth Cameron; Dale I Godfrey; Stephen J Kent

Journal article

Ex-vivo alpha-Galactosylceramide activation of NKT cells in humans and macaques

Caroline S Fernandez, Garth Cameron, Dale I Godfrey, Stephen J Kent

JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2012.05.019

Abstract

NKT cells are key mediators of antiviral and anticancer immunity. Experiments in mice have demonstrated that activation of NKT cells in vivo induces the expression of multiple effector molecules critical to successful immunity. Human clinical trials have shown similar responses, although in vivo activation of NKT cells in humans or primate models are far more limited in number and scope. Measuring ex vivo activation of NKT cells by the CD1d-restricted glycolipid ligand α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) through cytokine expression profiles is a useful marker of NKT cell function, but for reasons that are unclear, this approach does not appear to work as well in humans and non-human primate maca..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Dale Godfrey Author Microbiology and Immunology

Stephen Kent Author Microbiology and Immunology

Related Projects (7)

IMMUNE REGULATION EFFECTOR FUNCTION AND THERAPY

We seek to understand how white blood cells detect and destroy disease, and how molecules of the immune system punch holes in diseased cells..

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP 2007 - GODFREY

I am an immunologist, working to understand the function of NKT cells, and how these cells can be manipulated as a means of immune therapy f..

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Professor Godfrey is an immunologist with a long standing history as a pioneer in the study of a specialised type of white blood cell, known..

2007 PROGRAM GRANT - (IMMUNE REGULATION, EFFECTOR FUNCTION AND HUMAN IMMUNOTHERAPY)

The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progress..

2007 PROGRAM GRANT - (IMMUNE REGULATION, EFFECTOR FUNCTION AND HUMAN IMMUNOTHERAPY)

The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progress..

NHMRC Research Fellowship

Prevention and immunity aginst infectious diseases including HIV-AIDS

IMMUNE REGULATION EFFECTOR FUNCTION AND THERAPY

We seek to understand how white blood cells detect and destroy disease, and how molecules of the immune system punch holes in diseased cells..

Grants

Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC)

Awarded by NHMRC

Funding Acknowledgements

We thank Wendy Winnall, Konstantinos Kyparissoudis, Angela Chan, Sheilajen Alcantara, Pradeep Sidana, and Megan Schepers for expert assistance and advice. This research was supported by Australian National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) awards 510448, 629000 and 454569. GC is supported by a Cancer Research Institute postgraduate scholarship. DIG is supported by an NHMRC research fellowship 454309; SJK is supported by an NHMRC research fellowship 508937.