title: Natural killer T cells recognize diacylglycerol antigens from pathogenic bacteria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tupin
authors.forename: Douglass
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujio
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Navarro
authors.forename: Mohammed Rafii-El-Idrissi
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Benhnia
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zajonc
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ben-Menachem
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ainge
authors.forename: Gavin F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: Kasper
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoebe
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Behar
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Moriya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sellati
authors.forename: Chi-Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kronenberg
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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