Protein-glycan interactions in immunoregulation: galectins as tuners of the inflammatory response

Abstract

Protein-glycan interactions mediate a variety of biological processes including cell trafficking, activation, differentiation, and survival. Galectins, a growing family of animal lectins defined by shared consensus amino acid sequence and affinity for beta-galactose-containing oligosaccharides, are found on various cells of the immune system, and their expression is associated with the differentiation and activation state of these cells. Recent studies indicate that galectins participate both in immune cell homeostasis and inflammatory processes by acting as modulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, research over the past decade has identified a key role for galectins in the regulation of inflammatory conditions such as bowel inflammation, autoimmune ocular disease, and articular degenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that galectins may function as soluble mediators employed by tumor cells to evade the immune response. Given the potential use of these proteins as novel anti-inflammatory agents or targets for immunomodulatory drugs, we will summarize here recent advances on the role of galectin carbohydrate interactions in different aspects of immune cell physiology and their impact in pathological conditions including chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.-galactose-containing oligosaccharides, are found on various cells of the immune system, and their expression is associated with the differentiation and activation state of these cells. Recent studies indicate that galectins participate both in immune cell homeostasis and inflammatory processes by acting as modulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, research over the past decade has identified a key role for galectins in the regulation of inflammatory conditions such as bowel inflammation, autoimmune ocular disease, and articular degenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that galectins may function as soluble mediators employed by tumor cells to evade the immune response. Given the potential use of these proteins as novel anti-inflammatory agents or targets for immunomodulatory drugs, we will summarize here recent advances on the role of galectin carbohydrate interactions in different aspects of immune cell physiology and their impact in pathological conditions including chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.