CD1d-restricted Help To B Cells By Human Invariant Natural Killer T Lymphocytes
Open Access
- 14 April 2003
- journal article
- Published by Rockefeller University Press in The Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Vol. 197 (8), 1051-1057
- https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20021616
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells are a highly conserved subset of T lymphocytes expressing a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR), which is restricted to CD1d and specific for the glycosphingolipid antigen α-galactosylceramide. Their ability to secrete a variety of cytokines, which in turn modulate the activation of cells of both innate and acquired immune responses, suggests that invariant NKT cells exert a regulatory role mainly via indirect mechanisms. A relevant question is whether invariant NKT cells can directly help B cells. We document here that human invariant NKT cells are as efficient as conventional CD4+ Th0 lymphocytes in promoting proliferation of autologous memory and naive B lymphocytes in vitro, and in inducing immunoglobulin production. Help to B cells by invariant NKT cells is CD1d-dependent and delivered also in the absence of α-galactosylceramide, suggesting that NKT cells recognize an endogenous ligand presented by CD1d on B cells. The two major subsets of invariant NKT cells, CD4+ and double negative (CD4−CD8−), express comparable levels of CD40 ligand and cytokines, but differ in helper functions. Indeed, both subsets induce similar levels of B cell proliferation, whereas CD4+ NKT cells induce higher levels of immunoglobulin production. These results suggest a direct role for invariant NKT cells in regulating B lymphocyte proliferation and effector functions.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Trafficking machinery of NKT cells: shared and differential chemokine receptor expression among Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT cell subsets with distinct cytokine-producing capacityBlood, 2002
- CpG Motifs in Bacterial DNA and Their Immune EffectsAnnual Review of Immunology, 2002
- Distinct Functional Lineages of Human Vα24 Natural Killer T CellsThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2002
- CD27: a memory B-cell markerImmunology Today, 2000
- Immunization with α-galactosylceramide polarizes CD1-reactive NK T cells towards Th2 cytokine synthesisEuropean Journal of Immunology, 1999
- THE CD1 SYSTEM: Antigen-Presenting Molecules for T Cell Recognition of Lipids and GlycolipidsAnnual Review of Immunology, 1999
- MOUSE CD1-SPECIFIC NK1 T CELLS: Development, Specificity, and FunctionAnnual Review of Immunology, 1997
- Role of NK1.1 + T Cells in a T H 2 Response and in Immunoglobulin E ProductionScience, 1995
- Germinal CentersAnnual Review of Immunology, 1994
- Antigen-specific interaction between T and B cellsNature, 1985