[The perspectives of using lectins in immunodiagnostic and gene therapy]

In this article review diagnostic value of protein group-lectins for practical oncology are presented. It is indicated, that with some carbohydrate structures lectins revealed the possibility of reversible and selective action and with earlier elaborated methods, which are based on identification of antigen determinants with antibodies, they can significantly increase of tumour diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. It is consider the mechanisms of relationship between so-called mannan-binding lectins and mannans or carbohydrate structures, which are formed from the mannose residue. The presense of such mannose-enrich structures is connecting with the process of blastomic transformation. It was shown experimentally, that mannan-bindig lectins are interacting with the carbohydrate chains of the markers of blastomic transformation, particularly with the cancer-embryonic antigen. It was established the markedly increase of lectins gene expression in transformated cells. The gene therapy, which comprises the deliver of therapeutic genes to cells and tissues by virus vectors and nonvirus systems is also analysed. The last of them are the most widely using ligands containing oligosaccharides, because on the surface of many animal origin cells were identified lectins-protein receptors. It is suggested the perspectives of using oligosaccharide probes, which are the ligands for endogenous receptors-lectins in tumour diagnostic and guiding transport of medicinal products.