Naoto Matsuki

TL;DR: Critical roles for IL-15 in the development of specific lymphoid lineages are revealed and the ability to rescue lymphoid defects inIL-15−/− mice by IL- 15 administration represents a powerful means by which to further elucidate the biological roles of this cytokine.

TL;DR: It is reported that dendritic cells (DC) play a critical role in αGalCer-mediated activation of iNKT cells and subsequent transactivation of NK cells, and the differential immune outcome based on the type of APC that displays glycolipid Ags in vivo has implications for the design of therapies that harness the immunoregulatory functions of inKT cells.

TL;DR: It is predicted that cellular lipids occlude the hydrophobic Ag-binding groove of CD1 during assembly until they are exchanged for a glycolipid Ag(s) within the recycling compartment for display on the plasma membrane, akin to the function of invariant chain in MHC class II assembly.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that antiapoptotic signals relayed by NF-κB critically control cell fate specification and molecular differentiation of iNKT cells and, hence, reveal a novel role for such signals within the immune system.

TL;DR: It is discovered that the Vb repertoire of iNKT cells impacts recognition and Ag avidity, and that stimulation with suboptimal avidity Ag results in preferential expansion of high-affinity iN KT cells.