The importance of B cell CD1d expression for humoral immunity

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.