Natural Killer T (NKT) Cells and Periodontitis: Potential Regulatory Role of NKT10 Cells

Abstract

Natural killer T (NKT) cells constitute a unique subset of T lymphocytes characterized by specifically interacting with antigenic glycolipids conjugated to the CD1d receptor on antigen-presenting cells. Functionally, NKT cells are capable of performing either effector or suppressor immune responses, depending on their production of proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines, respectively. Effector NKT cells are subdivided into three subsets, termed NKT1, NKT2, and NKT17, based on the cytokines they produce and their similarity to the cytokine profile produced by Th1, Th2, and Th17 lymphocytes, respectively. Recently, a new subgroup of NKT cells termed NKT10 has been described, which cooperates and interacts with other immune cells to promote immunoregulatory responses. Although the tissue-specific functions of NKT cells have not been fully elucidated, their activity has been associated with the pathogenesis of different inflammatory diseases with immunopathogenic similarities to periodontitis, including osteolytic pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. In the present review, we revise and discuss the pathogenic characteristics of NKT cells in these diseases and their role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis; particularly, we analyze the potential regulatory role of the IL-10-producing NKT10 cells.

Association between genetically predicted circulating immune cells on periodontitis highlights the prospect of systemic immunomodulation management in periodontal care: a Mendelian randomization study

“…Similar to our findings, previous research revealed a greater number of NKT recruited in periodontitis tissues (Muthukuru, 2012 ;Yamazaki et al, 2001 ). Several studies have demonstrated the tissuespecific function of NKT and highlighted its pathogenic role in periodontitis (Aoki-Nonaka et al, 2014 ;Melgar-Rodríguez et al, 2021 ), which may be attributed to the proinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities mediated by NKT, spanning from cytokine production to immune cell interactions (Seidel et al, 2020 ).…”

Genetic associations between circulating immune cells and periodontitis highlight the prospect of systemic immunoregulation in periodontal care

“…Similar to our findings, previous research revealed more NKT recruited in periodontitis tissues ( Muthukuru, 2012 ; Yamazaki et al, 2001 ). Several studies have demonstrated the tissue-specific function of NKT and highlighted its pathogenic role in periodontitis ( Aoki-Nonaka et al, 2014 ; Melgar-Rodríguez et al, 2021 ), which may be attributed to the proinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities mediated by NKT, spanning from cytokine production to immune cell interactions ( Seidel et al, 2020 ).…”

Genetic associations between circulating immune cells and periodontitis highlight the prospect of systemic immunoregulation in periodontal care

“…Similar to our findings, previous research revealed a greater number of NKT recruited in periodontitis tissues ( Muthukuru, 2012 ; Yamazaki et al, 2001 ). Several studies have demonstrated the tissue-specific function of NKT and highlighted its pathogenic role in periodontitis ( Aoki-Nonaka et al, 2014 ; Melgar-Rodríguez et al, 2021 ), which may be attributed to the proinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities mediated by NKT, spanning from cytokine production to immune cell interactions ( Seidel et al, 2020 ).…”