title: Human T cells use CD1 and MR1 to recognize lipids and small molecules.
abstract: For decades immunologists thought that T cells solely recognize peptides bound to Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) proteins. Therefore, nearly all medical technology that seeks to measure and manipulate human T cells during immunization, infection, allergy and autoimmune diseases relies on peptide antigens. Newer insights into αβ and γδ T cell activation by CD1 or MR1 proteins greatly expand the biochemical range of T cell antigens to include lipids and non-peptidic small molecules. Moving beyond in vitro studies, the recent development of human CD1a, CD1b, CD1c and MR1 tetramers allows direct and specific enumeration of lipid-reactive and small molecule-reactive T cells, providing a new approach to study of T cell-mediated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Jimmy Fund Way, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Layre
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Dermatology, Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion, 1150 St Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Annemieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Jimmy Fund Way, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: bmoody@partners.org.
authors.forename: David Branch
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Moody
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000276:immunology*; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011485:Protein Binding; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008055:Lipids; C094840:MR1 protein, human; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens