Glycolipids and phospholipids as natural CD1d-binding NKT cell ligands.
Natural killer T (NKT) cells have been shown by a number of studies to play a protective role against cancers, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. Several glycolipids and phospholipids derived from mammalian, bacterial, protozoan and plant species have recently been identified as natural ligands (antigens) for NKT cells. Some of these glycolipid/phospholipid ligands have now been crystallized in forms bound to CD1d molecules, and the tertiary structure of these complexes has finally been revealed. This review is intended to list natural NKT cell ligands identified to date, and discuss how their structures relate to their propensity to bind CD1d molecules and, as a consequence, stimulate NKT cells.
Tsuji
M
M
HIV and Malaria Vaccine Program, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, 455 First Ave, New York, New York 10016, USA. mtsuji@adarc.org
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; C526877:CD1D protein, human; D006017:Glycolipids; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D008024:Ligands; D010743:Phospholipids