title: Autoreactive CD1b-restricted T cells: a new innate-like T-cell population that contributes to immunity against infection.
abstract: Group 1 CD1 (CD1a, -b, and -c) presents self and foreign lipid antigens to multiple T-cell subsets in humans. However, in the absence of a suitable animal model, the specific functions and developmental requirements of these T cells remain unknown. To study group 1 CD1-restricted T cells in vivo, we generated double transgenic mice (HJ1Tg/hCD1Tg) that express group 1 CD1 molecules in a similar pattern to that observed in humans (hCD1Tg) as well as a TCR derived from a CD1b-autoreactive T-cell line (HJ1Tg). Using this model, we found that similar to CD1d-restricted NKT cells, HJ1 T cells exhibit an activated phenotype (CD44(hi)CD69(+)CD122(+)) and a subset of HJ1 T cells expresses NK1.1 and is selected by CD1b-expressing hematopoietic cells. HJ1 T cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines in response to stimulation with CD1b-expressing dendritic cells derived from humans as well as hCD1Tg mice, suggesting that they recognize species conserved self-lipid antigen(s). Importantly, this basal autoreactivity is enhanced by TLR-mediated signaling and HJ1 T cells can be activated and confer protection against Listeria infection. Taken together, our data indicate that CD1b-autoreactive T cells, unlike mycobacterial lipid antigen-specific T cells, are innate-like T cells that may contribute to early anti-microbial host defense.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hak-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyrie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Felio
authors.forename: Chyung-Ru
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008087:Listeria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; C419394:CD1b antigen; D016207:Cytokines