Immune sensing of microbial glycolipids and related conjugates by T cells and the pattern recognition receptors MCL and Mincle

Abstract

Microbes produce a wide range of small molecule glycoconjugates that constitute unique molecular signatures. These molecules are recognized by a range of detection systems, triggering immune responses to microbial pathogens and commensals. The antigen-presenting molecules of the CD1 class, CD1a-d, capture lipidic molecules and present them to diverse and innate-like T cell populations including natural killer T cells and germline-encoded mycolyl reactive T cells. The antigen-presenting molecule MR1 captures vitamin B metabolites and presents them to mucosal associated invariant T cells. In both cases, recognition of the small molecule-antigen presenting molecule complexes occurs through T ce..