自然杀伤性T细胞在肝脏疾病中的作用与机制研究进展

Progress on the role and mechanisms of natural killer T cell in liver diseases

自然杀伤性T细胞(natural killer T cell,NKT cell)是一种非传统T淋巴细胞,既表达自然杀伤性细胞(natural killer cell,NK cell)的相关受体,也表达T细胞受体.近年来,不断有新的NKT细胞亚群被发现,不同亚群的结构、功能和调节机制不尽相同.在肝脏疾病中,活化的NKT细胞功能和作用复杂多变,其机制尚未十分明确,有待进一步研究.深入探讨NKT细胞在肝脏疾病中的作用及机制对延缓肝病病理进程至关重要.

Natural killer T cell (NKT cell) is one of an untraditional T lymphocytes, which expresses not only natural killer cell (NK cell) related receptors but also T cell receptors. Recently, some new subsets of NKT cell had been discovered continually, and these different subsets exhibited difference in terms of structure, function and regulation mechanisms. The role of activated NKT cells is complex in liver diseases, and its regulation mechanism remains elusive, further research is needed. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the role and mechanism of NKT cells in liver diseases is essential to remit pathology process of hepatopathy.