title: The NKT cell ligand αgalactosylceramide suppresses allergic airway inflammation by induction of a Th1 response.
abstract: One experimental approach for the treatment of allergic reactions is the stimulation of immunoregulatory NKT cells with the synthetic glycolipid αgalactosylceramide. For a first evaluation of the immunomodulatory potential of αGalCerMPEG a human in vitro allergy model was exploited. Acting as an adjuvant, the glycolipid induced an enhanced Th1-biased allergen-specific immune response of autologous lymphocytes. In a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation, αGalCerMPEG-activated NKT cells promoted a cytokine environment in the spleen, leading to priming of Th1 cells. The shift towards a Th1-dominated allergen-specific immune response thus might mediate the abrogation of allergic airway inflammation and thereby might provide a valid option for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Department of Immunology, Allergology and Immunotoxicology, Nikolai-Fuchs-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knothe
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mutschler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rochlitzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebensen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hohlfeld
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005699:Galactosylceramides; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C493154:alpha-galactosylceramide