Dissecting molecular determinants of the Galectin-4 glycan interactions and their potential relevance in intestinal inflammation

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Crohn´s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, constitute a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract, in which the perpetual state of inflammation constitutes a risk factor for the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CACRC). In this context, and even though galectin-glycan interactions play a central role as a mediator of pathophysiological processes, their role in IBD and CACRC has been scarcely explored.