The molecular and cellular basis of antigen recognition by CD1a-restricted T cells

Abstract

In contrast to conventional T cells that recognise peptide antigens presented by MHC molecules, a group of “unconventional” T cells recognise lipid antigens presented by MHC-like CD1 family members, CD1a, CD1b, CD1c and CD1d. Studies suggest that CD1a-restricted T cells comprise a unique subset in human blood that recognise CD1a-lipid complexes and play a unique functional role in skin immunity. While they comprise a decent proportion of T cells compared to CD1d-restricted, natural killer T (NKT) cells, they remain relatively less well-understood. This thesis describes the phenotypic characterisation of CD1a-restricted T cells in human tissues directly ex vivo. Phenotypic analyses and sing..