Anti-alpha-Gal antibody recruitment (Anti-Gal)

Anti-Gal antibody is a naturally occurring, highly abundant human immunoglobulin targeting the alpha-Gal epitope (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R), which humans lack due to evolutionary loss of the corresponding glycosyltransferase. Upon exposure to this carbohydrate, through foods, biologicals, or therapeutics, anti-Gal antibodies mediate diverse immune responses: these include protection against pathogens, allergic reactions in the form of alpha-Gal syndrome, and hyperacute rejection of xenografts. Recent therapeutic strategies seek to exploit anti-Gal antibody recruitment for cancer immunotherapy (by increasing tumor vaccine immunogenicity), for enhanced vaccine efficacy (targeting antigens to antigen-presenting cells), and in tissue regeneration (using alpha-Gal nanoparticles to recruit macrophages to wounds). The concept of "anti-alpha-Gal antibody recruitment" thus describes a set of immunological interventions rather than a single molecular target.

Other names

anti-Galanti-α-Galanti-Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose antibody

Complement activation; Fc receptor-mediated effector functions (opsonization, phagocytosis); IgE-mediated hypersensitivity; antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity