Characterizing the molecular mechanisms of self-lipids by CD1a that led to autoimmune skin hypersensitivities

Langerhans cells are specialized dendritic cells localized in the skin, and exclusively express CD1a on the cell surface. CD1a presents lipids found in the skin, as well as lipid products found in topical skin products, and induces aberrant T cell responses that led to skin hypersensitivities and psoriasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of skin lipid presentation will lead to a deeper understanding of disease activation and provide a basis for therapeutic development. Techniques used: biochemical and structural biology techniques, including protein recombinant expression, lipid handling, and protein-lipid complex structural determination using x-ray crystallography.