Natural killer T cells recognize diacylglycerol antigens from pathogenic bacteria.
Natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize glycosphingolipids presented by CD1d molecules and have been linked to defense against microbial infections. Previously defined foreign glycosphingolipids recognized by NKT cells are uniquely found in nonpathogenic sphingomonas bacteria. Here we show that mouse and human NKT cells also recognized glycolipids, specifically a diacylglycerol, from Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. The B. burgdorferi-derived, glycolipid-induced NKT cell proliferation and cytokine production and the antigenic potency of this glycolipid was dependent on acyl chain length and saturation. These data indicate that NKT cells recognize categories of glycolipids beyond those in sphingomonas and suggest that NKT cell responses driven by T cell receptor-mediated glycolipid recognition may provide protection against diverse pathogens.
Kinjo
Yuki
Y
Division of Developmental Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Tupin
Emmanuel
E
Wu
Douglass
D
Fujio
Masakazu
M
Garcia-Navarro
Raquel
R
Benhnia
Mohammed Rafii-El-Idrissi
MR
Zajonc
Dirk M
DM
Ben-Menachem
Gil
G
Ainge
Gary D
GD
Painter
Gavin F
GF
Khurana
Archana
A
Hoebe
Kasper
K
Behar
Samuel M
SM
Beutler
Bruce
B
Wilson
Ian A
IA
Tsuji
Moriya
M
Sellati
Timothy J
TJ
Wong
Chi-Huey
CH
Kronenberg
Mitchell
M
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000276:immunology; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism
C475930:1-O-palmitoyl-2-O-oleyl-3-O-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; C526877:CD1D protein, human; D004075:Diglycerides; D006017:Glycolipids; D012503:Saponins; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C475929:cholesteryl 6-O-palmitoylgalactopyranoside