宿主抗肺炎衣原体感染中NKT细胞对NK细胞调节作用的研究

肺炎衣原体是人类急性呼吸道感染的重要病原体。自然杀伤T细胞（NKT细胞）和自然杀伤细胞（NK细胞）是固有免疫系统的重要成员，在抗衣原体感染中均发挥重要的免疫调节作用，但两者之间的相互作用尚有待阐明。本项目拟用肺炎衣原体小鼠呼吸道感染模型, 阐明NKT细胞对NK细胞及其亚型功能的调节作用，探讨NKT细胞调节NK细胞功能的可能机制。在前期研究工作的基础上，本项目将进一步研究NK细胞对宿主抗肺炎衣原体感染免疫应答的影响，探讨NK细胞能否通过调节DC及其亚群功能，进而调节适应性免疫应答。同时，我们还拟对人肺炎衣原体急性肺部感染时NKT细胞和NK细胞的活化状态与功能进行分析，探讨两者间的相关性及其与疾病的关系。以上研究将能够加强我们对衣原体感染这一特定疾病的认识，并将有助于全面理解固有免疫细胞之间及其与获得免疫反应之间的相互作用。

Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) is an important human pathogen causing acute respiratory infection. Both NK cell and NKT cell are very important components of innate immune system and have been implicated in a wide range of conditions. Previous studies have shown NKT and NK cell are involved in host defense against chlamydial infection, however, the relationship between these two important innate immune cells in chlamydial infections has not been reported..In the proposed study, using a Cpn murine lung infection model, we plan to study (a) the modulating effect of NKT cells on the function of NK cells and the mechanisms by which NKT cells influence NK cells; (b) the role of NK cell in host defense against Cpn lung infection and the interaction between NK and dendritic cells as well as the role of this interaction in modulating T cell responses.In addition,we will observe the response of NK and NKT cells to Cpn acute infection in human pneumonia as well as the correlation of the two innate immune cells. .The study will lead to a clearer understanding of the defence mechanism to chlamydial infection, also likely enrich our understanding on the interaction between different types of innate and adaptive immune cells in a broader perspective.