Leveraging fluorinated glucosamine action to boost antitumor immunity

Curr Opin Immunol. 2013 Apr;25(2):206-13. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2012.11.003. Epub 2012 Dec 6.

Abstract

N-acetyllactosaminyl glycans are key regulators of the vitality and effector function of antitumor T cells. When galectin-1 (Gal-1) binds N-acetyllactosamines on select membrane glycoproteins on antitumor T cells, these cells either undergo apoptosis or become immunoregulatory. Methods designed to antagonize expression or function of these N-acetyllactosamines on N-glycans and O-glycans have thus intensified. Since tumors can produce an abundance of Gal-1, Gal-1 is considered a critical factor for protecting tumor cells from T cell-mediated antitumor activity. Recent efforts have capitalized on the anti-N-acetyllactosamine action of fluorinated glucosamines to treat antitumor T cells, resulting in diminished Gal-1-binding and higher antitumor T cell levels. In this perspective, the prospect of fluorinated glucosamines in eliminating N-acetyllactosamines on antitumor T cells to boost antitumor immunity is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Glucosamine / chemistry*
  • Glucosamine / immunology*
  • Halogenation
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Glucosamine