Mechanisms of NKT cell–based antibacterial immunity in response to exogenous α-galactosylceramide activation.

<p>α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) presented by respiratory DCs in the context of CD1d activates pulmonary NKT cells to produce IFN-γ and IL-17, which in turn activate macrophages, neutrophils, and possibly NK cells and epithelial cells. Since NKT cells can provide help to conventional T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, it is likely that NKT cell activation by α-galactosylceramide not only controls the bacterial burden early after infection but also promotes memory protective immune responses against secondary respiratory bacterial infections.