ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile
Selective suppression
Kezar’s immunoproteasome inhibitors could selectively inhibit autoimmune cells
September 23, 2017 3:08 AM UTC
Kezar Life Sciences Inc. is targeting the immunoproteasome to selectively suppress the hyperactive immune cells that drive autoimmunity. The company expects its biologics to have the rapid onset and broad activity of steroids, but without their toxicity.
Like other proteasomes, immunoproteasomes process antigens for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presentation. But immunoproteasomes also regulate the differentiation, function and survival of immune cells. The immunoproteasome is uniquely expressed by immune cells that have been stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines...