Humans Lack IGb3 Due To The Absence Of Functional IGb3-Synthase: Implications For NKT Cell Development And Transplantation

 14.07.2008 21:11   medicalnewstoday.com

Identification of endogenous antigens that regulate natural killer T (NKT) cell development and function is a major goal in immunology. Originally the glycosphingolipid, iGb3, was suggested to be the main endogenous ligand in both mice and humans. However, recent studies have challenged this hypothesis. From a xenotransplantation (animal to human transplants) perspective, iGb3 expression is also important as it represents another form of the major xenoantigen Gala(1,3)Gal.

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