Table 1.
The terminology specific to the B cell and natural killer T cell fields of research that are used in this article.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cells | |
| B-1 B cell | Innate-like B cell found in peritoneal cavity, pleural cavity and spleen |
| Memory B cell | Defines B cells that have experienced Ag and undergone germinal center reactions Can self-renew for maintenance of memory or differentiate into plasma cells upon restimulation with Ags |
| Dendritic cell | A group of professional APCs that express class I, class II and CD1d Potent activators of naive T cells and of resting NKT cells |
| Follicular B cell | Major class of B lymphocyte resident in secondary lymphoid organs and responds to T-cell-dependent Ags |
| Marginal zone B cell | Found in splenic marginal zone of mice Responds to blood-borne T-cell-independent Ags Results in characteristic IgM and IgG3 response |
| Plasma cell | Antibody-secreting cell found in periphery, secondary lymphoid organs or bone marrow |
| Short-lived plasma cell | Can differentiate from Ag-experienced B cells without undergoing germinal center reactions |
| Long-lived plasma cell | Competes for survival niches in bone marrow and maintains serum antibody titers |
| NKT | A lymphocyte with T-cell lineage and shared properties of T cells and natural killer cells |
| – Type I NKT | CD1d-restricted NKT expressing Vα14 invariant TCR (mouse) and Vα24 TCR (human) Reactive to CD1d–α-GC complexes |
| – Type II NKT | CD1d-restricted NKT cells with variable TCR usage Reactive to CD1d–sulfatide complexes |
| – Type III NKT | Diverse group of T cells expressing natural killer markers, with variable TCR usage Not CD1d restricted |
| Helper T cell | CD4+, class II-restricted T cell that following appropriate stimulation by dendritic cells, differentiates into an effector cell that secretes cytokines to influence the immune response |
| Reagents | |
| α-GC | CD1d-binding glycolipid derived from the Agelas Mauritianus marine sponge Stimulates type I NKT cells |
| C-glycoside α-GC | Synthetic α-GC-based molecule that stimulates production of Th1 cytokines by Type I NKT cells |
| NP–α-GC | Synthetic α-GC with nitrophenol hapten (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl-α-GC) |
| OCH | A truncated α-GC-based molecule that stimulates production of Th2 cytokines by Type I NKT cells |
α-GC: α-galactosylceramide; Ag: Antigen; APC: Antigen-presenting cell; NKT: Natural killer T cell; NP: Nitrophenol; TCR: T-cell receptor.