Unravelling mechanisms regulating Mincle activation

Mincle is a C-type lectin and potent driver of inflammation. Given Mincle's ability to recognise a complex repertoire of endogenous and exogenous ligands, a network of regulatory mechanisms that precisely control Mincle activation is required to prevent excessive inflammatory responses. Here we discuss the mechanisms that govern Mincle-dependent cellular activation and the gaps in our current knowledge. Understanding the key mechanisms regulating Mincle activation could pave the way for the rational design of targeted immunotherapies and vaccines adjuvants.