Trehalose-6,6-dibehenate (TDB) is a synthetic analog of trehalose-6,6-dimycolate (TDM, also known as cord factor), which is the most studied immunostimulatory component of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1].
TDB binds the C-Type lectin, Mincle (macrophage-inducible C-type lectin) [1,2]. Upon TDB recognition Mincle interacts with the Fc receptor common γ-chain (FcRγ), which triggers intracellular signaling through Syk leading to CARD9-dependent NF-κB activation.
References:
- Ishikawa, E. et al., 2009. Direct recognition of the mycobacterial glycolipid, trehalose dimycolate, by C-type lectin Mincle. J. Exp. Med. 206, 2879–2888.
- Schoenen, H. et al., 2010. Cutting edge: Mincle is essential for recognition and adjuvanticity of the mycobacterial cord factor and its synthetic analog trehalose-dibehenate. J. Immunol. 184, 2756–2760.