Abstract
Human V alpha 24+ NK T cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes expressing the V alpha 24J alpha Q invariant TCR chain. Because they can rapidly produce large amounts of regulatory cytokines, a reduction of NK T cells may lead to the development of certain autoimmune diseases. Using a single-strand conformation polymorphism method, we demonstrate that a great reduction of V alpha 24J alpha Q NK T cells in the peripheral blood is an immunological hallmark of multiple sclerosis, whereas it is not appreciable in other autoimmune/inflammatory diseases such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy lesions were often found to be infiltrated with V alpha 24J alpha Q NK T cells, but multiple sclerosis lesions only rarely expressed the V alpha 24J alpha Q TCR. It is therefore possible that the extent of NK T cell alteration may be a critical factor which would define the clinical and pathological features of autoimmune disease. Although the mechanism underlying the NK T cell deletion remains largely unclear, a remarkable contrast between the CNS and peripheral nervous system diseases allows us to speculate a role of tissue-specific elements such as the level of CD1d expression or differences in the CD1d-bound glycolipid.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Base Sequence
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Central Nervous System Diseases / immunology
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Central Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
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Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology
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Female
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Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
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Humans
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
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Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Multiple Sclerosis / blood
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Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid
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Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
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Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / blood
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / cerebrospinal fluid
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / pathology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / immunology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
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Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / blood
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Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / cerebrospinal fluid
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Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / immunology*
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Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / pathology
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / biosynthesis*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / blood
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
Substances
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta