Abstract
Abstract CD1 proteins are a family of MHC-like polypeptides that present lipids rather than peptides to T cells. We have examined the role of CD1-restricted T cells in the context of mycobacterial infection since T cells mediate host defense against mycobacterial infection and the mycobacterial envelope contains a high concentration of lipids. To determine whether CD1 and MHC-restricted T cells represent distinct or complementary functional populations, T cells derived from lesions of leprosy patients were activated through their CD3 receptor, gene expression patterns were evaluated, and protein expression measured using ELISA. CD1- and MHC-restricted T cells exhibited a similar profile of cytokine production, particularly Th1 and Th2 cytokines. In contrast, the two populations of T cells were more distinct in their chemokine expression. CD1-restricted T cells produced CCL20, which shares a receptor with antimicrobial β-defensins; in contrast, MHC-restricted T cells produced CXCL10, a chemokine whose receptor is expressed on activated Th1 T cells. Our data reveal both complementary and distinct functions of CD1- and MHC-restricted T cells and suggest that CD1-restricted T cells function in the rapid response to microbial infection in contrast to MHC-restricted T cells, which regulate adaptive immunity.
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