CD1

Group 1 CD1 molecules have been shown to present foreign lipid antigens, and specifically a number of mycobacterial cell wall components, to CD1-specific T cells.

The natural antigens of group 2 CD1 are not well characterized, but a synthetic glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide, originally isolated from a compound found in a marine sponge, has strong biologic activity.

Group 2 CD1 molecules activate a group of T cells, known as Natural killer T cells because of their expression of NK surface markers such as CD161. Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are activated by CD1d-presented antigens, and rapidly produce Th1 and Th2 cytokines, typically represented by interferon-gamma and IL-4 production.

The group 2 (CD1d) ligand alpha-galactosylceramide is currently in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of advanced non-hematologic cancers.

CD1 proteins consist of a heavy chain with α1, α2, and α3 domains and a transmembrane domain which anchors it to the cell membrane. Much like the MHC molecules, the CD1 heavy chain associates with β2-microbglobulin and its binding groove consists of two antiparallel α-helices, placed atop a β-sheet platform. The antigen-binding cleft architecture of CD1 proteins consists of A’, C’, F’ and T’ binding pockets and C’ and D’/E’ accessory portals, which act to accommodate the aliphatic hydrocarbon chains present in lipid, glycolipid, phospholipid, or lipopeptide antigens. CD1 antigen binding clefts are defined by locations of named portals where antigens protrude.[9][7]

The main difference in structure between MHC and CD1 proteins is that in MHC proteins, the contact region for TCR show lateral symmetry, whereas human CD1 proteins show left-right asymmetry. Another difference between  MHC and CD1 proteins is that the antigen display platform of CD1 molecules is smaller than the antigen display groove of MHC molecules.[2]

Human CD1 cells can recognise and bind a large number of lipids, from monoacylated lipids or lipopeptides to tetra-acylated lipids. However, not all of the lipid ligands can be considered antigens for T-cells. Free fatty acids sphingolipids, phospholipids, sulfolipids, lysophospholipids, amphipathic small molecules and some oils function as natural antigens for T cells.[1][7]

10% of all αβ T lymphocytes in human peripheral blood are CD1-restricted T cells, out of which, the most abundant are the T cells specific for CD1c. Three models of CD1 recognition by TCR have been described: “head group recognition” model, “absence of interference” model and “altered CD1” model. The “head group recognition” model is considered to be a classical mode of CD1-antigen recognition, whereas the other two are only “emerging” CD1-antigen recognition models which predict that TCR contacts CD1 and not lipid.[9][4][1][7]

• The “Head group recognition” model, also called “headgroup discrimination” model, is attributed to CD1b and CD1d, and it refers to the fact that TCR do not only react to peptidic antigens, but can also recognise and bind to the structure of carbohydrate and other non-peptidic head groups of antigens that are carried by CD1.[9][4]
• The “absence of interference” model emerged as a result of the identification of tissue-derived CD1a-presented autoantigens and the first CD1a-lipid-TCR structure, between an autoreactive TCR which bound the CD1a without contacting the lipid that CD1a was carrying. In accordance to the left-right asymmetry of CD1, the small hydrophobic lipid ligand emerges from the F’ binding pocket (the right side of the CD1 binding cleft) and TCR binds to the A’ binding pocket (the left side of CD1a). Sulfatide and sphingomyelin can be considered antagonists for CD1 autoreactive cells, as they have a large polar head group and can block the CD1a A’ binding pocket.[4][9]
• The “altered CD1” model is attributed to CD1c. CD1c has A’ pole, F’ roof and G’ portal, which serve as points of access to the binding cleft. When it is loaded with fatty acids and lipids, CD1c alters its 3D surface in order to act as a TCR recognition surface.[4][9]

CD1 antigens are expressed on cortical thymocytes, but not on mature T cells. This often remains true in neoplastic cells from these populations, so that the presence of CD1 antigens can be used in diagnostic immunohistochemistry to identify some thymomas and malignancies arising from T cell precursors. CD1a, in particular, is a specific marker for Langerhans cells, and can therefore also be used in the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Other conditions that may show CD1 positivity include myeloid leukaemia and some B cell lymphomas.[10]