alpha-galcer

αGalCer-RBD, a conjugate of the potent invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonist α-Galactosylceramide (αGalCer) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD), serves as a self-adjuvanting lipoprotein that exhibits strong potential as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. This compound effectively induces immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern by promoting the development of RBD-specific, cytokine-producing T cells.

α-Galactosylceramide (KRN7000) is a synthetic glycolipid with antitumorial and immunostimulatory and is a very potent NKT cell agonist and binds effectively to CD1d. The complex of α-Galactosylceramide and CD1d can bind to the T cell antigen receptor of NKT cells.

α-Galactosylceramide analog 8 (α-GalCer analog 8) is a triazole derivative of α-galactosylceramide. [1] It increases IL-2 secretion by DN32.D3 NKT hybridoma cells when co-cultured with CD1d-transfected RBL cells pre-loaded with α-GalCer analog 8 at a concentration of 32 ng/ml. α-GalCer analog 8 (32 ng/ml) induces IL-4 secretion to a greater extent than the synthetic α-GalCer KRN 7000 in mouse splenocytes in vitro and in mouse serum following administration of a 1 µg per animal dose, indicating a Th2 response.