T cell autoreactivity directed toward CD1c itself rather than toward carried self lipids

Kwok S Wun, Josephine F Reijneveld, Tan-Yun Cheng, Kristin Ladell, Adam P Uldrich, Jérôme Le Nours, Kelly L Miners, James E McLaren, Emma J Grant, Oscar L Haigh, Thomas S Watkins, Sara Suliman, Sarah Iwany, Judith Jimenez, Roger Calderon, Kattya L Tamara, Segundo R Leon, Megan B Murray, Jacob A Mayfield, John D AltmanAnthony W Purcell, John J Miles, Dale I Godfrey, Stephanie Gras, David A Price, Ildiko Van Rhijn, D Branch Moody*, Jamie Rossjohn*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The hallmark function of αβ T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) involves the highly specific co-recognition of a major histocompatibility complex molecule and its carried peptide. However, the molecular basis of the interactions of TCRs with the lipid antigen-presenting molecule CD1c is unknown. We identified frequent staining of human T cells with CD1c tetramers across numerous subjects. Whereas TCRs typically show high specificity for antigen, both tetramer binding and autoreactivity occurred with CD1c in complex with numerous, chemically diverse self lipids. Such extreme polyspecificity was attributable to binding of the TCR over the closed surface of CD1c, with the TCR covering the portal where lipids normally protrude. The TCR essentially failed to contact lipids because they were fully seated within CD1c. These data demonstrate the sequestration of lipids within CD1c as a mechanism of autoreactivity and point to small lipid size as a determinant of autoreactive T cell responses.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)397–406
    JournalNature Immunology
    Volume19
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'T cell autoreactivity directed toward CD1c itself rather than toward carried self lipids'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this