Application of glycolipid treatment for multiple sclerosis

这组研究人员已经阐明了一种称为OCH的糖脂化合物，它对NKT细胞具有刺激作用，可以通过诱导自身免疫T细胞的Th 2偏好来抑制多发性硬化症（MS）、实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎（EAE）动物模型的发展。本研究的目的是评估OCH治疗是否也可以有效地调节人MS中的Th 1/Th 2平衡。为此，我们从MS患者和健康个体的外周血中产生了许多NKT细胞克隆。将克隆分为CD 4阳性（CD 4+）和CD 4阴性（CD 4-）。CD 4-克隆对NKT细胞的原型配体α-半乳糖神经酰胺（α-GC）反应强烈，但对OCH反应不强烈。相比之下，CD 4+克隆对OCH和α-GC都有反应。有趣的是，OCH刺激在诱导Th 2细胞因子方面比α-GC刺激相对更有效。这些结果支持OCH在未来可能适用于MS的治疗。

This group of investigators has already clarified that a glycolipid compound referred to as OCH, that is stimulatory for NKT cells, could inhibit the development of the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by inducing Th2 bias of autoimmune T cells. The purpose of the study was to evaluate if OCH treatment could be also effective for modulating Th1/Th2 balance in human MS. To do so, we have generated a number of NKT cell clones from peripheral blood the patients with MS and healthy individuals. The clones were classified into CD4-positive (CD4+) and CD4-negative (CD4-). CD4-clones responded strongly to alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GC), a prototype ligand for NKT cells, but did not so in response to OCH. By contrast, CD4+ clones responded to both OCH and alpha-GC. Interestingly, OCH stimulation was relatively more effective than alpha-GC stimulation in inducing Th2 cytokines. These results support that OCH may be applicable for treatment of MS in the future.