CD1d Ligands: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Published in: Journal of Immunology Vol. 177; no. 2; pp. 769 - 775
• Main Author: Brutkiewicz, Randy R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 15-07-2006
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - metabolism; Adjuvants, Immunologic - physiology; Animals; Antigen Presentation - immunology; Antigens, CD1 - immunology; Antigens, CD1 - metabolism; Antigens, CD1 - physiology; Antigens, CD1d; Carbohydrate Sequence; Humans; Ligands; Molecular Sequence Data; Virus Diseases - immunology; Virus Diseases - virology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.2.769

The MHC class I-like CD1d glycoprotein is a member of the CD1 family of Ag-presenting molecules and is responsible for the selection of NKT cells. A number of ligands that can be presented by CD1d to NKT or other CD1d-restricted T cells have been identified. These include glycolipids from a marine sponge, bacterial glycolipids, normal endogenous glycolipids, tumor-derived phospholipids and glycolipids, and nonlipidic molecules. The presentation of many of these molecules can have immunopotentiating effects, such as serving as an adjuvant against malaria or resulting in a more rapid clearance of certain virus infections. They can also be protective in autoimmune diseases or cancer or can be deleterious. This review will highlight these ligands in a discussion of their potential use against (and role in the pathogenesis of) these diseases.