Sugars boost exhausted tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by counteracting immunosuppressive activities of galectins

Monica Gordon-Alonso1, Nathalie Demotte1, Pierre van der Bruggen1

  • 1Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels; WELBIO; and de Duve Institute; Université Catholique de Louvain; Brussels, Belgium.

Oncoimmunology
|August 7, 2014
PubMed

Galectins released by tumor cells and macrophages can bind surface glycoproteins of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), forming glycoprotein-galectin lattices with immunosuppressive activities. Specifically, TILs covered by galectin-3 are unable to secrete cytokines after stimulation. Treating TILs ex vivo with galectin antagonists for a few hours boosts their functions. Several galectin antagonists are currently available for clinical trials.

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