Activation of iNKT cells by a distinct constituent of the endogenous glucosylceramide fraction

Significance Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a specialized subset of T cells that recognizes lipids, rather than peptides, as antigens. Recognition of both endogenous and exogenous lipids by iNKT cells contributes to immune responses during infection, cancer, autoimmune disease, and alle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2014-09, Vol.111 (37), p.13433-13438
Main Authors: Brennan, Patrick J., Tatituri, Raju V. V., Heiss, Christian, Watts, Gerald F. M., Hsu, Fong-Fu, Veerapen, Natacha, Cox, Liam R., Azadi, Parastoo, Besra, Gurdyal S., Brenner, Michael B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigens
Biological Sciences
Cattle
Chromatography, Thin Layer
Coculture techniques
Cows milk
Fatty acids
Glucosylceramidase - metabolism
Glucosylceramides
Glucosylceramides - chemistry
Glucosylceramides - pharmacology
Glycolipids
Humans
Lipids
Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects
Lymphocyte Activation - immunology
Mammals
Mass Spectrometry
Mice
Milk - chemistry
Natural killer T cells
Natural Killer T-Cells - drug effects
Natural Killer T-Cells - immunology
Spleen
T cell receptors
T lymphocytes
Tissues
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Summary:Significance Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a specialized subset of T cells that recognizes lipids, rather than peptides, as antigens. Recognition of both endogenous and exogenous lipids by iNKT cells contributes to immune responses during infection, cancer, autoimmune disease, and allergic disease. The endogenous lipids recognized by iNKT cells in most contexts, however, remain unclear. In this report, we characterize the lipid antigen activity found in mammalian milk and tissues. Our data suggest that activity is related to a minor component of the glucosylceramide fraction. Whether contributed from endogenous sources or from the diet, this rare, yet potent lipid activity may play an important role in driving immune responses.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1415357111