Glycolipid stimulators for NKT cells bearing invariant V alpha 19-J alpha 33 TCR alpha chains.

Attempts have been made to find specific antigens for a novel NKT cell subset bearing invariant V alpha 19-J alpha 33 TCR alpha chains (V alpha 19 NKT cell). Comprehensive examinations revealed substantial antigenic activity in synthetic alpha-mannosylceramide (ManCer) that was presented by MR1. Structural modification of the sphingosine moiety of alpha-ManCer improved antigenic activity to enhance either Th1 or Th2 -promoting cytokine production by V alpha 19 NKT cells. Such alpha-ManCer analogues will be useful for developing new therapies as immunomodulators.