Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulating Activity of Gallium

Gallium has shown anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating activity in some in vitro and animal models of autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, and allograft rejection. The data suggest that clinical testing of gallium may be warranted for (1) treating autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis; (2) treating some inflammatory diseases, such as asthma; and (3) ameliorating acute rejection following organ transplantation. Much of the following report is taken from the review by Bernstein (1998), updated to November 2008.