Diseases due to mycobacteria, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer, rank among the top causes of death and disability worldwide. Animal studies have revealed the importance of T cells in controlling these infections. However, the specific antigens recognized by T cells that confer protective immunity and their associated functions remain to be definitively established. T cells that respond to mycobacterial peptide antigens exhibit classical features of adaptive immunity and have been well-studied in humans and animal models. Recently, innate-like T cells that recognize lipid and metabolite antigens have also been implicated. Specifically, T cells that recognize mycobacterial glycolipid antigens (mycolipids) have been shown to confer protection to tuberculosis in animal models and share some biological characteristics with adaptive and innate-like T cells. Here, we review the existing data suggesting that mycolipid-specific T cells exist on a spectrum of "innateness," which will influence how they can be leveraged to develop new diagnostics and vaccines for mycobacterial diseases.
BT - Frontiers in immunology C1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32117300 DA - 01/2020 DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00170 J2 - Front Immunol LA - eng N2 -Diseases due to mycobacteria, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer, rank among the top causes of death and disability worldwide. Animal studies have revealed the importance of T cells in controlling these infections. However, the specific antigens recognized by T cells that confer protective immunity and their associated functions remain to be definitively established. T cells that respond to mycobacterial peptide antigens exhibit classical features of adaptive immunity and have been well-studied in humans and animal models. Recently, innate-like T cells that recognize lipid and metabolite antigens have also been implicated. Specifically, T cells that recognize mycobacterial glycolipid antigens (mycolipids) have been shown to confer protection to tuberculosis in animal models and share some biological characteristics with adaptive and innate-like T cells. Here, we review the existing data suggesting that mycolipid-specific T cells exist on a spectrum of "innateness," which will influence how they can be leveraged to develop new diagnostics and vaccines for mycobacterial diseases.
PY - 2020 EP - 170 T2 - Frontiers in immunology TI - T Cell Responses to Mycobacterial Glycolipids: On the Spectrum of "Innateness". UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7026021/pdf/fimmu-11-00170.pdf VL - 11 SN - 1664-3224 ER -