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T cells specific for lipid antigens

  • Singapore Immunology Network
  • Published:
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Abstract

Lipid-specific T cells are important participants in human immune responses. Recognition of lipid antigens contributes to host defense against pathogens that can cause debilitating diseases, including mycobacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Lipid-specific T cells also play important roles in various autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, and in tumor surveillance. A better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate lipid-reactive T-cell functions will enable the development of novel therapies across a wide range of diseases. In recent years, our laboratory has investigated lipid antigen specificities, mechanisms of lipid antigen presentation, molecular interaction of lipid antigens with CD1 antigen-presenting molecules, and the pathogenic and regulatory functions of lipid-specific T cells in a variety of disease settings. In this review, we present recent data that illustrate the critical role played by lipid-specific immune responses in host protection, with a particular focus on human studies.

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Abbreviations

α-GalCer:

α-Galactosylceramide

APC:

Antigen-presenting cells

CDR:

Complementarity-determining region

DC:

Dendritic cells

ER:

Endoplasmic reticulum

GSL:

Glycosphingolipid

iNKT:

Semi-invariant natural killer T

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

LTP:

Lipid transfer protein

PC:

Phosphatidylcholine

TCR:

T-cell antigen receptor

TGN:

Trans-Golgi network

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

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Acknowledgments

We thank Anil Kumar for the graphic elaboration of the structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, Biopolis, Singapore, 138648, Singapore

    Lucia Mori & Gennaro De Libero

  2. Department of Biomedicine, Experimental Immunology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Gennaro De Libero

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  1. Lucia Mori
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  2. Gennaro De Libero
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Correspondence to Lucia Mori.

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Mori, L., De Libero, G. T cells specific for lipid antigens. Immunol Res 53, 191–199 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-012-8294-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-012-8294-6

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