Influenza infection in suckling mice expands an NKT cell subset that protects against airway hyperreactivity

Activation of iNKT cells by a distinct constituent of the endogenous glucosylceramide fraction

“…Although we had previously interpreted our data to indicate that β-GlcCer was the active lipid in the glucosylceramide fraction, the refined data presented in this report demonstrate that the majority of β-GlcCer species do not potently activate iNKT cells. Possible explanations for the observed activity include a rare α-GlcCer component, another α-glycolipid such as such as α-galactosylceramide or α-glucuronic acid, an α-linked cholesterol glycoside (27,28), a modified β-GlcCer that is GCaseresistant, or another copurifying novel structure. Although α-GlcCer remains a strong candidate, NMR analyses were not able to definitively identify α-GlcCer.…”

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Novel Glycosphingolipids That Stimulate Natural Killer T-Cells

“…143,144) In addition, cholesteryl 6-tetradecanoyl--glucoside (PI57), derived from Helicobacter pylori, was also identified recently as an NKT cell stimulant. 145) These findings suggest that NKT cells are activated by microbial antigens and induce immune responses, such as cytokine production.…”

Regulatory T Cells and Viral Disease

“…Additionally, T reg responses to viruses (and bacteria) form the basis of the "hygiene hypothesis." Infection with influenza A in suckling mice protected these mice as adults against allergy induced airway hyperactivity due to the expansion of allergenspecific regulatory T cells (Chang YJ, 2011). Additionally, regulatory T cells responses to Mycobacterium spp.…”