Natural Killer T Cells: Born in the Thymus, Raised in the Gut Ken T. Coppieters, Dirk Elewaut  Gastroenterology  Volume 143, Issue 2, Pages 293-296 (August 2012) DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.06.024 Copyright © 2012 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Post-thymic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell education in the intestine. Left side: (1) Functionally immature iNKT cells are released from the thymus after selection for the invariant T-cell receptor (TCR). (2) These cells locate to the intestinal wall, predominantly the lamina propria of the small intestine, where they recognize gut microbiota via their TCR. (3) The antigenic stimulus leads to expansion and functional maturation into the activated memory phenotype that characterizes this subset in the periphery. Upon recognition of glycolipid antigen in the periphery, these cells rapidly secrete a wide variety of cytokines. Right side: (2) In the absence or in the event of altered microbial composition, iNKT cells are inadequately primed for functional maturation. (3) Consequently, the cells do not expand properly and do not attain a normal functional status. Upon recognition of antigen in the periphery, aberrant responses are mounted, which may result in an inability to deal with infections or control autoimmunity. Gastroenterology 2012 143, 293-296DOI: (10.1053/j.gastro.2012.06.024) Copyright © 2012 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions