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T-cell activation by lipopeptide antigens
Ildiko Van Rhijn1, Dirk M Zajonc, Ian A Wilson
1Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|May 12, 2005
Summary
T cells use CD1 molecules to detect lipids and small molecules on cell surfaces. This system presents mycobacterial lipopeptides, potentially allowing T cells to distinguish between different peptide sequences.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The CD1 system presents lipid antigens to T cells via T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction.
- CD1 proteins are implicated in presenting mycobacterial lipopeptides crucial for iron scavenging in infected cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of lipopeptide antigen presentation by CD1.
- To explore the potential for CD1 to facilitate T cell discrimination of peptide sequences.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of CD1-mediated antigen presentation.
- Investigation of T cell-lipid antigen interactions.
Main Results:
- CD1 proteins present mycobacterial lipopeptides by anchoring them in a hydrophobic binding groove.
- The peptide portion of lipopeptides is exposed for TCR recognition.
- This mechanism suggests CD1 may enable T cells to differentiate peptide sequences.
Conclusions:
- CD1 antigen presentation extends the known repertoire of T cell antigens.
- CD1 molecules may function analogously to MHC class I and II in peptide sequence discrimination by T cells.