A modified alpha-galactosyl ceramide for staining and stimulating natural killer T cells

J Immunol Methods. 2006 May 30;312(1-2):34-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2006.02.009. Epub 2006 Mar 6.

Abstract

CD1d presentation of alpha-galactosyl ceramides to natural killer T cells has been a focal point of the study of regulatory T cells. KRN7000, an alpha-galactosyl ceramide originally generated from structure activity studies of antitumor properties of marine sponge glycolipids, is currently the most commonly used agonist ligand and is used to stain NKT cells. However, this glycolipid suffers from poor solubility and availability. We have developed an alpha-galactosyl ceramide with improved solubility over KRN7000 that effectively stains NKT cells, both mouse and human, and stimulates cytokine release at low concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD1 / immunology
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Galactosylceramides / chemistry*
  • Galactosylceramides / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas / cytology
  • Hybridomas / drug effects
  • Hybridomas / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Staining and Labeling
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, CD1
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • CD1D protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • Galactosylceramides
  • PBS 57
  • KRN 7000