The mechanisms of lectin-mediated cell agglutination

The interaction between lectins and cells is a well established phenomenon. However, the way by which this interaction occurs is still unclear and published observations are sometimes contradictory. This article attempts to reconciliate the available information concerning this problem in order to find support for a new model of lectin-mediated agglutination of cells. The traditional idea favours the carbohydrate-directed interaction as the main reason of binding of lectins to the cell surface. Nevertheless, lectins molecules are so diversified in physical chemical and biological properties, as well as in structure, that such generalization cannot be stated without risk. Furtheremore, the agglutination mechanism itself is too complex to assume that lectins are only functional "bridges" that hold two cells together. The effect noticed when agglutination is studied with different cells and different lectins at various conditions, suggest that other factors are to be taken into account.