α-Mannosyl Ceramide

Potent stimulator of natural killer T (NKT) cells expressing the invariant Vα19-Jα26 T cell receptor α chain (Vα19 NKT cells).

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) are important regulators of the immune system. They share properties of both innate as well as adaptive immunity. They express T cell receptors (TCR) on their surface consisting of an invariable α-chain and a somewhat variable β-chain. The majority of NKT cells express the invariable α-chain Vα14-Jα18 (Vα14) in mouse or its homolog in humans Vα24-Jα18 (Vα24). Vα14 NKT cells recognize α-GalCer presented by CD1d. NKT cells expressing the invariant Vα19-Jα26 TCR α-chain (Vα19 NKT cells) have been found in peripheral blood lymphocytes and in the liver. They recognize α-ManCer presented by MR1 (Major histocompatibility complex, class I-related) and respond with production of large amounts of immunoregulatory cytokines.