The uptake of trehalose glycolipids by macrophages is independent of Mincle.

Trehalose glycolipids play an important role in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are used as adjuvants for vaccines; however, much still remains unanswered about the mechanisms through which these glycolipids exert their immunomodulatory potential. Recently, the macrophage-inducible C-type lectin Mincle was determined to be the receptor for trehalose glycolipids, yet the role played by Mincle in glycolipid uptake is unknown. Accordingly, we developed several fluorescent trehalose glycolipid reporter systems that can be used to study the uptake of soluble trehalose glycolipids and glycolipid-coated particles by macrophages. Our studies revealed that, although Mincle is essential for the activation of macrophages by trehalose glycolipids, the receptor does not play a role in the uptake of these glycolipids or of glycolipid-coated particles.