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NKT cells represent a unique subset of immunoregulatory T cells that recognize glycolipid Ags presented by the MHC class I-like molecule CD1d. Because of their immunoregulatory properties, NKT cells are attractive targets for the development of immunotherapies. The prototypical NKT cell ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), originally isolated from a marine sponge, has potent immunomodulatory activities in mice, demonstrating therapeutic efficacy against metastatic tumors, infections, and autoimmune diseases, but also has a number of adverse side effects. In vivo administration of alpha-GalCer to mice results in the rapid activation of NKT cells, which is characterized by cytokine secretion, surface receptor down-regulation, expansion, and secondary activation of a variety of innate and adaptive immune system cells. In this study, we have evaluated the in vivo immune response of mice to a set of structural analogues of alpha-GalCer. Our results show that, contrary to current thinking, beta-anomeric GalCer can induce CD1d-dependent biological activities in mice, albeit at lower potency than alpha-anomeric GalCer. In addition, we show that the response of NKT cells to distinct GalCer differs not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. These findings indicate that NKT cells can fine-tune their immune responses to distinct glycolipid Ags in vivo, a property that may be exploited for the development of effective and safe NKT cell-based immunotherapies.

Original publication

DOI

10.4049/jimmunol.173.6.3693

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

15/09/2004

Volume

173

Pages

3693 - 3706

Keywords

Adjuvants, Immunologic, Animals, B-Lymphocytes, Cell Division, Cytokines, Dendritic Cells, Disease Progression, Down-Regulation, Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental, Female, Galactosylceramides, Glycolipids, Immunoglobulin E, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Killer Cells, Natural, Lymphocyte Activation, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Psychosine, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Spleen, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Transcriptional Activation