NKT cells Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

NKT cells - Research Paper ExampleImmunologists have been striving to unearth the connection between NKT cells and the inflammatory characteristics of asthma, in a weightlift to design new intervention strategies. This paper will review the biology of instinctive Killer T cells and the prevention strategies of asthma and allergic diseases. Biology of NKT Cells Natural Killer T cells form a subset of lymphocytes as scientists have described. Depending on the T-cell receptor repertoires, NKT cells fall into three categories. The first type of NKT cells is the classical NKT cells that exhibit hold T-cell receptors (Akbariet al 2006). Immunologists have been described type 1 NKT cells in mice and humans, with those in humans named invariant NKT cells. Type 2 is also available in some(prenominal) mice and humans but have a diverse range of T-cell receptors. However, type 2 faces a restriction from CD1d. The third type forms the independent category of NKT cells characterized as expres sing either Ly49 or NK1.1 (CD161 in humans). Moreover, it proved quite difficult to isolate this type of NKT cells. Immunologists have succeeded in isolating type 1 and associating it with the development of asthma. NKT cells stick in numerous similarities to Th2 Cells, which propel the processes that cause the development of asthma. ... However, the two types of cells exhibit different activation processes (Wohlleben&Erb, 2006). Processes Leading to the Development of Asthma and related Atopic Diseases Experts seeking to understand the immunologic processes that lead to the development of asthma, have described the process in detail. Asthma results from the Th2 responses taking place in the lungs. The production of Th2 responses result from the action of allergen specific CD4+. The buttocks of asthma development is that there must be activation of transcription factors from the downstream factors resulting to the production of Th2 effector cells. The effect of these processes i s the production of cytokines such as interleukins IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Moreover, these processes trigger the recruitment of eosinophils and allergen specific immunoglobulin E by beta cells (Mallevaey et al, 2006). Granulation of eosinophils and mast cells occurs with as they indulge in a cross-linking with immunoglobulin E (igE). This causes the production of mucose and airway hyper-reactivity and a chronic inflaming of the airway. These are the central attributes of asthma.Processes that trigger Th2 responses often lead to airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation. Immunologists have highlighted that Th1 responses do not trigger this hyper-reactivity and inflammation defining asthma and other atopic diseases. There is evidence suggesting that children contacting bacterial infections that trigger Th1 responses in their earlier years have a less likelihood of develop asthma. NKT Cells and Asthma There is evidence that NKT cells have the potential to trigger Th2 responses t hat often lead to development of asthma and other atopic diseases. This is because of their ability to recognize glycolipid