The immune system from a glycobiological point of view

Abstract

Glycoimmunology is a nascent field that focuses on the role of glycans and lectins in the development and resolution of an immune response. Glycosylation as a posttranslational modification can influence proteins both structurally, that is, by modulation of intra- or intermolecular interactions, and functionally, that is, exposing glycoepitopes recognized by specific lectins. In this chapter, due to the prevalent and significant presence of glycoconjugates and lectins as mediators of the immune response, we will schematically portray glycoconjugates and lectins as part of the different components of the immune system, highlighting paradigmatic examples of their essential role in the immune function and its modulation, including carbohydrate-mediated interactions driving cellular and humoral responses.