title: The importance of B cell CD1d expression for humoral immunity.
abstract: It was reported over a decade previously that CD1d-restricted Natural Killer T (NKT) cells could interact with CD1d-expressing B cells and facilitate antibody secretion. Since then, several studies have observed that NKT cells can provide B-cell help for production of antibody against model and pathogen-derived glycolipids, carbohydrates and proteins. In regard to T cell-dependent protein antigens, it is still not entirely clear to what extent cognate interactions between CD1d-expressing B cells and NKT cells contribute to initial and long-lived B-cell responses that are characteristic of such antigens. In this editorial, we review evidence that NKT cells provide CD1d-dependent cognate and non-cognate forms of B-cell help following immunization with protein antigen. Elucidating these mechanisms will be important for harnessing NKT cells during vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D055610:Antigens, CD1d / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D011506:Proteins
keywords: B lymphocyte; CD1d; NKT cell; antibody; cognate interactions