Gangliosides: therapeutic agents or therapeutic targets?

Abstract

A wide array of pathologies make gangliosides interesting molecules either as therapeutic targets or as possible therapeutic agents. This review covers recent patents and ongoing research focusing on the use of gangliosides as drugs and drug targets for indications such as cancer, neurodegeneration, viral and bacterial infections and immunosuppression. A major deficit of gangliosides as therapeutics is that they are ubiquitous cell membrane components whose cognate functions remain puzzling. Understanding the cognate biology of gangliosides and the nature of the molecules that interact with gangliosides will undoubtedly unlock novel approaches for making use of these interesting glycolipids for therapeutic intervention.

• cancer
• extracellular matrix
• ganglioside
• glycolipids
• immunosuppression
• ligand
• neurodegeneration
• neuroprotection
• rafts
• vaccine