Journal of Glycobiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2168-958X
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2168-958X
+44 1478 350008
Yaron Ilan
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Glycobiol
Oral Immune therapy is an approach to treat autoimmune, infectious, malignant and inflammatory diseases. It is an active
process that uses the inherent ability of the GI tract�s immune system to control unwanted systemic immune responses
by inducing regulatory T cells in an antigen-specific manner. Dendritic cells and Natural Killer T cells play an important role
in this interaction. Glycosphingolipids were shown as secondary messengers of the immune system affecting the dendritic
cells-natural killer cells interplay thereby underlying the interaction between the innate and the adaptive immune systems and
promoting oral immune therapy. Glycosphingolipids were also shown as potent adjuvant in the gut. Preclinical studies supports
the role of glycosphingolipids in alleviating immune-mediated colitis, autoimmune hepatitis, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver
disease. In addition, they were shown to promote the anti-tumor immunity in animal models of primary liver cancer. Recent
clinical trials support a similar effect in humans with immune-meidated disorders. Patients with Gaucher disease, who have
elevated levels of glucocerebroside in their serum, were shown to have altered immune response and to have an evolutionary
advantage, further supporting the immune modulatory role of the sphingolipids. In summary, balance between various
glycosphingolipids is important for immune homeostasis. Gaucher, administration of �²-glycosphingolipids, compounds that
alter enzymes that increase or decrease sphingolipids levels, skew the immune balance. The effect of �²-glycosphingolipids may
be associated with promotion of the DC-NKT interaction, Tregs and or via alteration of lipid rafts and intracellular signaling.
�²-glycosphingolipids can serve as potent adjuvants/immune modulators for immune therapy.