The betaherpesvirus human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes several molecules that block antigen presentation by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Humans also possess one other family of antigen-presenting molecules, the CD1 family; however, the effect of HCMV on CD1 expression is unknown. The majority of CD1 molecules are classified on the basis of homology as group 1 CD1 and a...

CD1 molecules are glycoproteins that present lipids and glycolipids for recognition by T cells. CD1-dependent immune activation has been implicated in a wide range of immune responses, however, our understanding of the role of this pathway in human disease remains limited because of species differences between humans and other mammals: whereas humans express five different CD1 gene products (CD...

Many of the genes that comprise the vertebrate adaptive immune system are conserved across wide evolutionary time scales. Most notably, homologs of the mammalian MHC gene family have been found in virtually all jawed vertebrates, including sharks, bony fishes, reptiles, and birds. The CD1 family of antigen-presenting molecules are related to the MHC class I family but have evolved to bind and p...

Since anti-CD1 TCR transgenic T cells can activate syngeneic B cells via CD1 to secrete IgM and IgG and induce lupus in BALB/c mice, we studied the role of CD1 in the pathogenesis of lupus in NZB/NZW mice. Approximately 20% of B cells from the spleens of NZB/NZW mice expressed high levels of CD1 (CD1high B cells). The latter subset spontaneously produced large amounts of IgM anti-dsDNA Abs in v...

CD1 molecules play an important role in the immune system, presenting lipid-containing antigens to T and NKT cells. CD1 genes have long been thought to be as ancient as MHC class I and II genes, based on various arguments, but thus far they have been described only in mammals. Here we describe two CD1 genes in chickens, demonstrating that the CD1 system was present in the last common ancestor o...

Humans and mice contain significant populations of T cells that are reactive for autologous CD1 molecules. Using a panel of five mouse CD1 (mCD1)-autoreactive T cell hybridomas, we show here that this autoreactivity does not correlate with the level of CD1 expression. In some cases, these autoreactive T cells can distinguish between different cell types that express the same CD1 molecule, sugge...

A potential role for the CD1 family of lipid Ag-presenting molecules in antimicrobial immunity in vivo was investigated in human leprosy skin lesions. Strong induction of three CD1 proteins (CD1a, -b, and -c) was observed in dermal granulomas in biopsy samples of involved skin from patients with the tuberculoid form of leprosy or with reversal reactions, which represent clinical patterns of dis...

In a previous trial, we found that combined 13-cis-retinoic acid, IFN-alpha, and alpha-tocopherol more effectively reversed advanced premalignant lesions of the larynx than of the oral cavity and that cyclin D1 (CD1) G/A870 single nucleotide polymorphism correlated with cancer risk. We conducted the present trial primarily to confirm the clinical activity of the combination in advanced laryngea...

CD1 is an Ag-presenting molecule that can present lipids and glycolipids to T cells. The CD1 genes were first identified in the human, and since then, homologs have been identified in every mammalian species examined to date. Over a decade ago, CD1B and CD1D homologs were identified in the rabbit. We have extended this earlier study by identifying additional CD1 genes with the goal of developin...

The CD1 proteins are a family of non-polymorphic and MHC class I-related molecules that present lipid antigens to subsets of T lymphocytes with innate- or adaptive-like immune functions. Recent studies have provided new insight into the identity of immunogenic CD1 antigens and the mechanisms that control the generation and loading of these antigens onto CD1 molecules. Furthermore, substantial p...