Studies of multiple sclerosis
(MS) have concentrated mainly on antigen presentation of peptides
derived from the myelin sheath, while the implication of lipid antigen
has been less explored in this pathology. As the extracellular
environment regulates expression of the lipid antigen-presenting
molecule CD1, we have examined whether sera from patients alters CD1
surface expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells. We have shown
that: (i) CD1 group 1 proteins were highly expressed in the presence of
MS sera; (ii) sera from MS patients differentially regulated CD1 group 1
versus CD1 group 2 molecular expression; and (iii) CD1 was expressed
strongly in monocytes from MS patients under immunosuppressive
treatment. Overall, these results reveal that CD1 expression is modified
in MS and provide novel information on the regulation of lipid antigen
presentation in myeloid cells.
CD1 molecules are related to the class I MHC molecules, and are involved in the presentation of lipid (fat) antigens to T cells. There are different forms of CD1 termed CD1a, CD1b, CD1c (group 1), CD1d (group 2) etc.. There are things in MS blood can cause the enhanced expression of CD1 so could this be involved with the generation of antibodies to myelin lipids, which occur as we saw yesterdays post on lipids and MS. Labels: CD1