Four pathways of CD1 antigen presentation to T cells

CD1a, CD1b, CD1c and CD1d proteins migrate through distinct subcellular compartments of antigen presenting cells and so can be considered to take four separate pathways leading to display of lipid antigens to T cell receptors. This review discusses the intersection of CD1 trafficking and lipid antigen loading mechanisms in cells, highlighting key controversies relating to CD1 gene expression, size mismatches between antigens and CD1 binding clefts and unexpected mechanisms of T cell receptor-based recognition.