NKT cells and HIV infection

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes glycolipids presented by the non-polymorphic MHC class I-like molecule Md. NKT cells regulate a wide variety of immune functions against autoantigens and pathogens. Recently, it was shown that NKT cells are targeted by HIV-1 and selectively lost in HIV-infected individuals. This review will focus on the mechanisms, consequences and therapeutic implications of these findings. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.