Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells

Human C-type lectin-like molecule CD161 is a type II transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of various lymphocytes within both the innate and adaptive immune systems. CD161 serves as a marker for innate-like T cells and IL-17-producing cells. However, the meaning of these T cells expressing...

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Main Authors: Bainan Tong, Mingxuan Wang, Lu Liu, Xinyue Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1648305/full
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author Bainan Tong
Mingxuan Wang
Lu Liu
Xinyue Yang
author_facet Bainan Tong
Mingxuan Wang
Lu Liu
Xinyue Yang
author_sort Bainan Tong
collection DOAJ
description Human C-type lectin-like molecule CD161 is a type II transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of various lymphocytes within both the innate and adaptive immune systems. CD161 serves as a marker for innate-like T cells and IL-17-producing cells. However, the meaning of these T cells expressing CD161 has not yet been fully determined. Is CD161 merely a phenotypic marker used to identify T cells that are in a common state of activation and/or lineage? Or does this C-type lectin itself have important effector functions? This article aims to explore the latest research progress on CD161-expressing T cells, particularly human αβTCR+T and γδTCR +T cells, and evaluate the importance of CD161 expression on immune function and human diseases through this research.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-ee2bafab2e814fbba9374ab651b685ff2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16483051648305Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cellsBainan TongMingxuan WangLu LiuXinyue YangHuman C-type lectin-like molecule CD161 is a type II transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of various lymphocytes within both the innate and adaptive immune systems. CD161 serves as a marker for innate-like T cells and IL-17-producing cells. However, the meaning of these T cells expressing CD161 has not yet been fully determined. Is CD161 merely a phenotypic marker used to identify T cells that are in a common state of activation and/or lineage? Or does this C-type lectin itself have important effector functions? This article aims to explore the latest research progress on CD161-expressing T cells, particularly human αβTCR+T and γδTCR +T cells, and evaluate the importance of CD161 expression on immune function and human diseases through this research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1648305/fullCD161LLT1T cellsTh17 cellsMAIT cells
spellingShingle Bainan Tong
Mingxuan Wang
Lu Liu
Xinyue Yang
Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
Frontiers in Immunology
CD161
LLT1
T cells
Th17 cells
MAIT cells
title Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
title_full Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
title_fullStr Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
title_full_unstemmed Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
title_short Immunobiology roles of the human CD161 receptor in T cells
title_sort immunobiology roles of the human cd161 receptor in t cells
topic CD161
LLT1
T cells
Th17 cells
MAIT cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1648305/full
work_keys_str_mv AT bainantong immunobiologyrolesofthehumancd161receptorintcells
AT mingxuanwang immunobiologyrolesofthehumancd161receptorintcells
AT luliu immunobiologyrolesofthehumancd161receptorintcells
AT xinyueyang immunobiologyrolesofthehumancd161receptorintcells