has plasma membrane part develops from capable of output of mature alpha-beta T cell mature NK T cell mature natural killer T-lymphocyte mature natural killer T-cell mature NK T lymphocyte Mature NK T cells, or natural killer T cells, are a unique subset of alpha-beta T cells that serve as mediators in the immune response. They are named for their distinct ability to express markers typical of natural killer (NK) cells (such as NK1.1) as well as a T cell receptor specific for a limited set of ligands. Similar to mature effector T cells, mature NK T cells represent a heterogeneous group of effector cells, which express different transcription factors and cytokines and hence have different effector functions in both innate and adaptive immune responses. They are CD1d-restricted T lymphocytes: they recognize endogenous and exogenous lipid antigens presented by the MHC-like molecule CD1d. They have been classified into two subpopulations based on their TCR usage and specificity for lipid antigen: Type I NK T cells have an invariant TCRα-chain while type II NK T cells have a more diverse TCR repertoire. Mature NKT cells have been shown to have both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions and modulate immune responses, including cancer, autoimmunity, allergy, infection and graft-versus-host disease. The primary function of mature NK T cells is to rapidly respond to infections by releasing large amounts of cytokines to aid cell-to-cell communication in immune responses. They also play a role in recognizing and eliminating certain types of cancer cells. Upon activation via their TCRs, mature NK T cells can promptly release a plethora of cytokines including interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). These cytokines subsequently stimulate other immune cells, such as B cells, T cells and macrophages, to respond to the infection or abnormal cell growth. In addition to antibody-mediated responses, NK T cells are capable of cytotoxic responses, a crucial function in managing viral infections. Mature NK T cells can bind to infected cells, inducing cell death and thereby preventing the spread of the infection. Furthermore, they have been found to play an instrumental role in autoimmunity and allergic diseases, highlighting their key part in maintaining the body’s overall immune balance. Continuous research on mature NK T cells informs therapeutic efforts in immunological disorders, infections, and cancer. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) mature natural killer T cell mature NKT cell A mature alpha-beta T cell of a distinct lineage that bears natural killer markers and a T cell receptor specific for a limited set of ligands. NK T cells have activation and regulatory roles particularly early in an immune response. https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0000814 mature natural killer T lymphocyte mature NK T-lymphocyte mature NK T-cell immature NK T cell T cell differentiation MHC class Ib receptor activity innate immune response Homo sapiens KLRB1-like protein