alpha-Galactosylceramide therapy for autoimmune diseases: prospects and obstacles.
Autoimmune responses are normally kept in check by immune-tolerance mechanisms, which include regulatory T cells. In recent years, research has focused on the role of a subset of natural killer T (NKT) cells - invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, which are a population of glycolipid-reactive regulatory T cells - in controlling autoimmune responses. Because iNKT cells strongly react with a marine-sponge-derived glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), it has been possible to specifically target and track these cells. As I discuss here, although preclinical studies have shown considerable promise for the development of treatment with alpha-GalCer as a therapeutic modality for autoimmune diseases, several obstacles need to be overcome before moving alpha-GalCer therapy from the bench to the bedside.
Van Kaer
Luc
L
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. luc.van.kaer@vanderbilt.edu
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D005699:Galactosylceramides; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C493154:alpha-galactosylceramide