Open AccessVLA-4 as a Central Target for Modulating Neuroinflammatory Disorders
Author(s) -
Jurberg Ar Dias,
Chaves Beatriz,
Pinho Lia Gonçalves,
da Silva João Hermínio Martins,
Savino Wilson,
Cotta-de-Almeida Vinicius
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
neuroimmunomodulation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.635
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1423-0216
pISSN - 1021-7401
DOI - 10.1159/000518721
Subject(s) - review article
The complex steps leading to the central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and the progress to neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders have opened up new research and intervention avenues. This review focuses on the therapeutic targeting of the VLA-4 integrin to discuss the clear-cut effect on immune cell trafficking into brain tissues. Besides, we explore the possibility that blocking VLA-4 may have a relevant impact on nonmigratory activities of immune cells, such as antigen presentation and T-cell differentiation, during the neuroinflammatory process. Lastly, the recent refinement of computational techniques is highlighted as a way to increase specificity and to reduce the detrimental side effects of VLA-4 immunotherapies aiming at developing better clinical interventions.