Paul Song MD is the Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor at NKGen Biotech. Here he discusses the significance of NK cell dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease and presents preliminary clinical data with NKGen's enhanced activated autologous NK cell therapy in adult patients with advanced neurodegenerative diseases. He also explores of the potential therapeutic use of this approach in kids with ASD.
While neuroinflammation can be a potentially beneficial defense mechanism that initially protects the brain by inhibiting diverse pathogens and clearing cellular debris, persistent inflammation can adversely affect neuronal plasticity, impair memory, and is generally considered as a main driver of tissue damage in neurodegenerative disorders.
Whether the upregulation of CXC chemokine receptor expression on CD4+ T cells, presence of blood-brain barrier disruption, changes in white and grey matter, or abnormal synaptic growth and/or synapses density, all mechanisms indicate a possible role of neuroinflammation in the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Natural killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system that control several types of tumors and viral infections by limiting their spread and subsequent tissue damage. They also play an important role in identifying and eliminating autoreactive CD4+ cells and damaged neurons.
Several studies have demonstrated an overall immune dysregulation in kids with ASD and increased prevalence of dysfunctional NK cells with low cytotoxicity.
🎥 This talk was part of Synchrony 2022 Online Symposium - 'From Bench to Biopharma', organised by the The BRAIN Foundation
🎥 For more Synchrony 2022 talks and highlights:
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Synchrony [ Ссылка ] is the first and only international symposium on translational research in #autism, that brings together academia, #biotech, pharmaceutical companies and #venture partners from around the world with the mission to improve health and quality of life of people with #autismspectrumdisorder.
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The BRAIN Foundation [ Ссылка ] is a 501c(3) non-profit. The founders of BRAIN envision a world where every child and adult on the autism spectrum is healthy, participates fully in education and employment, and has a better quality of life. It aims to catalyze research that results in evidence-based interventions for the disabilities associated with autism, and also results in better medical standard of care.
To accomplish this, it funds impactful research through #philanthropy and our network of partners in the venture, corporate, and grassroots community.
