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Endogenous lipid antigens for invariant natural killer T cells hold the reins in adipose tissue homeostasis
Author(s) -
Eijkeren Robert J.,
Krabbe Olga,
Boes Marianne,
Schipper Henk S.,
Kalkhoven Eric
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12839
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , immune system , antigen , biology , immunology , inflammation , lipid metabolism , antigen presentation , natural killer t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , t cell
Summary The global obesity epidemic and its associated co‐morbidities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers, have drawn attention to the pivotal role of adipocytes in health and disease. Besides their ‘classical’ function in energy storage and release, adipocytes interact with adipose‐tissue‐resident immune cells, among which are lipid‐responsive invariant natural killer T ( iNKT ) cells. The iNKT cells are activated by lipid antigens presented by antigen‐presenting cells as CD 1d/lipid complexes. Upon activation, iNKT cells can rapidly secrete soluble mediators that either promote or oppose inflammation. In lean adipose tissue, iNKT cells elicit a predominantly anti‐inflammatory immune response, whereas obesity is associated with declining iNKT cell numbers. Recent work showed that adipocytes act as non‐professional antigen‐presenting cells for lipid antigens. Here, we discuss endogenous lipid antigen processing and presentation by adipocytes, and speculate on how these lipid antigens, together with ‘environmental factors’ such as tissue/organ environment and co‐stimulatory signals, are able to influence the fate of adipose‐tissue‐resident iNKT cells, and thereby the role of these cells in obesity and its associated pathologies.