title: Alpha-galactosylceramide: potential immunomodulatory activity and future application.
abstract: alpha-Galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), is a glycolipid which has been identified as a ligand recognized by a special group of immune T cells, known as invariant NKT cells. alpha-GalCer can powerfully activate invariant NKT cells to produce immunoregulatory cytokines, including interferon-gamma and IL-4, and thereby exert a variety of subsequent effects on other cells in the immune system. Recent studies have revealed the mechanism of alpha-GalCer-induced iNKT cell-activation in immune responses to tumors and microbes, and in the suppression of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss the potential immunomodulatory activity of alpha-GalCer and its possible future application for clinical studies in humans.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology Program, Trescowthick Laboratories, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St. Andrews Place, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Dale I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005699:Galactosylceramides