CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer (iNK) T cells are innate T cells known for their ability to shape adaptive immunity toward inflammation or immune-suppression via the rapid production of Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-type cytokines from corresponding iNKT subsets such as NKT1, NKT2, and NKT17. IL-10-producing invariant NKT cells, termed NKT10 cells, are thought to play an immunoregulatory role, but their potential clinical use remains underexplored.
We characterized human NKT10 cells from cord-derived iNKT cells and investigated their therapeutic utility in allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Cord and cord-derived iNKT cells contained a high frequency of CD4+CD25+CD161lowFoxP3+ iNKT cells and showed Th2/Th10-biased cytokine production upon antigenic stimulation.
Accordingly, cord-derived iNKT cells displayed a distinct gene expression profile with upregulated genes related to NKT2, NKT10, and regulatory T cells compared with adult donor-derived iNKT cells.
Frontiers in Immunology published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 10 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Human NKT10 cells are enriched in cord-derived invariant natural killer T cells and mediate immune-regulation in a xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease model.
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