CSDB: Search results

Taxonomic group: protista / Euglenozoa (Phylum: Euglenozoa)
Host organism: (mammal)
Associated disease: Chagas disease [ICD11: 1F53

, ICD11: XN56V

]; infection due to Trypanosoma cruzi [ICD11: XN56V

]

NCBI PubMed ID: 23578170
Publication DOI: 10.1111/imm.12110
Journal NLM ID: 0374672
Publisher: Oxford, UK: Blackwell Scientific Publications
Correspondence: Uri.Galili

umassmed.edu
Institutions: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA

Anti-Gal is the most abundant natural antibody in humans, constituting ~ 1% of immunoglobulins. Anti-Gal is naturally produced also in apes and Old World monkeys. The ligand of anti-Gal is a carbohydrate antigen called the 'α-gal epitope' with the structure Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R. The α-gal epitope is present as a major carbohydrate antigen in non-primate mammals, prosimians and New World monkeys. Anti-Gal can contributes to several immunological pathogeneses. Anti-Gal IgE produced in some individuals causes allergies to meat and to the therapeutic monoclonal antibody cetuximab, all presenting α-gal epitopes. Aberrant expression of the α-gal epitope or of antigens mimicking it in humans may result in autoimmune processes, as in Graves' disease. α-Gal epitopes produced by Trypanosoma cruzi interact with anti-Gal and induce 'autoimmune like' inflammatory reactions in Chagas' disease. Anti-Gal IgM and IgG further mediate rejection of xenografts expressing α-gal epitopes. Because of its abundance, anti-Gal may be exploited for various clinical uses. It increases immunogenicity of microbial vaccines (e.g. influenza vaccine) presenting α-gal epitopes by targeting them for effective uptake by antigen-presenting cells. Tumour lesions are converted into vaccines against autologous tumour-associated antigens by intra-tumoral injection of α-gal glycolipids, which insert into tumour cell membranes. Anti-Gal binding to α-gal epitopes on tumour cells targets them for uptake by antigen-presenting cells. Accelerated wound healing is achieved by application of α-gal nanoparticles, which bind anti-Gal, activate complement, and recruit and activate macrophages that induce tissue regeneration. This therapy may be of further significance in regeneration of internally injured tissues such as ischaemic myocardium and injured nerves.

Trypanosoma cruzi, wound healing, α-gal epitopes, anti-Gal, increased immunogenicity, tumour vaccine

Structure type: fragment of a bigger structure
Location inside paper: abstract, p. 4
Trivial name: α-gal epitope, mucin oligosaccharide, α-gal epitope
Compound class: glycoinositol phospholipid, O-glycan
Contained glycoepitopes: IEDB_115013,IEDB_130645,IEDB_130646,IEDB_130649,IEDB_135813,IEDB_135815,IEDB_136044,IEDB_136906,IEDB_137340,IEDB_137472,IEDB_140108,IEDB_140122,IEDB_141496,IEDB_141794,IEDB_141807,IEDB_146694,IEDB_149558,IEDB_151528,IEDB_151531,IEDB_190606,IEDB_418918,IEDB_689191,IEDB_918314,SB_165,SB_166,SB_187,SB_195,SB_30,SB_40,SB_7,SB_87,SB_88

Comments, role: review

NCBI Taxonomy refs (TaxIDs): 5693
Show glycosyltransferases

There is only one chemically distinct structure:

CC(=O)N[C@H]1C(O)O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O[C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@H](O)[C@H](O[C@H]3O[C@H](CO)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]3O)[C@H]2O)[C@@H]1O

SVG MW SMILES 3D mol Ionize