(03.05.2012) Ausblick auf Immunmodulation im frühen Lebensalter: Review Artikel in der Fachzeitschrift „Pediatric Allergy and Immunology“

Perspectives on immunomodulation early in life Susanne C. Diesner, Elisabeth Förster-Waldl, Ana Olivera, Arnold Pollak, Erika Jensen-Jarolim and Eva Untersmayr

Der Überblicksartikel, der als editor’s choice und auch für die Illustration der Titelseite der Mai Ausgabe 2012 des Pediatric Allergy and Immunology ausgewählt wurde, beleuchtet die unreife Funktion von Immunzellen und die Dominanz an Th2 Zytokinen, die das Immunsystem im frühen Lebensalter charakterisiert. Gemeinsam mit genetischen und epigenetischen Faktoren ist dies ein möglicher Risikofaktor für schwere Infektionen und die Neigung zu allergischer Erkankungen in dieser ersten Lebensphase. Aus diesem Grund zielen die Forschungsbemühungen darauf ab, therapeutische Strategien zu entwickeln, die das Immunsystem in dieser vulnerablen Phase modulieren. In dem Überblicksartikel liegt der Fokus auf 2 vielversprechenden immunmodulatorischen Wirkklassen, den Toll-like Rezeptoren und den Sphingolipiden, die zurzeit im Fokus von Wissenschaftlern weltweit sind.

Editor’s choice information: Immature immune cell function and a predominance of Th2 cytokines characterize the immune system early in life. Together with genetics and epigenetical factors they might prone newborns susceptible to severe infections and allergic diseases. Thus, recent therapeutic strategies against early life diseases aim to modulate the immune system. In this review, Diesner et al. focus on two promising immunomodulatory substance classes, Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and sphingolipids, which are current focus of research.
TLRs, being diversely distributed on the surface and on inner membranes of immune cells, might modulate immune responses in a distinct manner when specifically targeted. However, stimulation of TLRs might also lead to side effects as strong pro-inflammatory responses cannot be excluded.
The second class of immunomodulators, sphingolipids and their metabolites, has very diverse bioactive functions. Sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) has been elucidated to play a special role in allergy and there is emerging evidence for its contribution to infectious diseases. Interaction of the S1P homeostasis or targeting of distinct S1P receptor have been shown to modulate the immune system differently. However, this class of lipids is very complex and the interaction of their metabolites is not fully understood to date.

Therefore, both classes of immunomodulators, TLR ligands and sphingolipids, might even balance the immune system early in life. However, both substance classes need to be in-depth characterized for their suitability and efficacy, especially when aiming to apply them in the pediatric population.

Link zu Pupmed