Development and function of NKT cell subsets in humans

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/454363

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

NKT cells are a type of white blood cell that help to control the function of the immune system. Many studies have reported an association between low NKT cell levels and increased rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Unfortunately, NKT cells are a relatively recent discovery and their function is not well understood, especially in humans. For example, it has only recently been discovered that there are different types of NKT cells with different functions. This lack of knowledge has prevented us from understanding how NKT cells normally prevent disease, and how we should treat diseases associated with low NKT cell numbers. In this project, we will study human NKT cells to determine how many different subsets exist, how they develop, and what role they play in the immune system. Importantly, we will use our knowledge to compare NKT cells from healthy donors and patient groups with T1D and cancer to determine exactly what is wrong with the NKT cells in these people. While both diseases are already linked to low NKT cell numbers, we do not know how these problems arise, or if some types of NKT cells are more important than others. Our study will determine how different types of NKT cells develop and function in humans and therefore allow a much more detailed understandng of how to diagnose and treat NKT cell deficiencies associated with different diseases.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2009

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $533,828.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cellular Immunology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

NKT cells | T cell subsets | Thymus | autoimmune diseases | cancer immunology | human immunology | immune development | immunodeficiencies | immunology | lymphocyte differentiation

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