Cutting Edge: Anti-CD1 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Reverses the Production Patterns of TGF-β2 and Th1 Cytokines and Ameliorates Listeriosis in Mice

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 162; no. 12; pp. 6955 - 6958
• Main Authors: Szalay, Gudrun, Ladel, Christoph H., Blum, Carmen, Brossay, Laurent, Kronenberg, Mitchell, Kaufmann, Stefan H. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15.06.1999
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.162.12.6955

Abstract Protection against intracellular bacteria by T cells is regulated by Ag-presenting molecules, which comprise classical MHC class I molecules, MHC class II molecules, and nonclassical MHC class Ib molecules. The role of CD1 molecules, which are structurally similar to classical MHC class I gene products, but less polymorphic, is not understood so far. We show that CD1 surface expression increased on APC in Listeria-infected mice. The in vivo treatment with anti-CD1 mAb reduced TGF-β2 levels and concomitantly increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF, the Th1 cell promoting cytokine IL-12, and the Th1 cell cytokine IFN-γ at the onset of listerial infection. These findings point to a regulatory role of CD1-reactive cells in the immune response against listeriosis.