Premium
The processing and presentation of lipids and glycolipids to the immune system
Author(s) -
Vartabedian Vincent F.,
Savage Paul B.,
Teyton Luc
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/imr.12431
Subject(s) - glycolipid , antigen , antigen processing , biology , antigen presentation , cd1 , major histocompatibility complex , microbiology and biotechnology , lipid metabolism , mhc class i , biochemistry , immune system , antigen presenting cell , immunology , t cell
Summary The recognition of CD 1–lipid complexes by T cells was discovered 20 years ago and has since been an emerging and expanding field of investigation. Unlike protein antigens, which are presented on MHC class I and II molecules, lipids can only be presented by CD 1 molecules, a unique family of MHC ‐like proteins whose singularity is a hydrophobic antigen‐binding groove. The processing and loading of lipid antigens inside this groove of CD 1 molecules require localization to endosomal and lysosomal subcellular compartments and their acidic pH s. This particular environment provides the necessary glycolytic enzymes and lipases that process lipid and glycolipid antigens, as well as a set of lipid transfer proteins that load the final version of the antigen inside the groove of CD 1. The overall sequence of events needed for efficient presentation of lipid antigens is now understood and presented in this review. However, a large number of important details have been elusive. This elusiveness is linked to the inherent technical difficulties of studying lipids and the lipid–protein interface in vitro and in vivo . Here, we will expose some of those limitations and describe new approaches to address them during the characterization of lipids and glycolipids antigen presentation.