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The Role of Glycans in Human Immunity-A Sweet Code.

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Glycans and glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) on immune cells regulate immune responses and disease. Understanding these interactions drives the development of novel glycan-targeted therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Glycobiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Immune cell surface glycans, products of glycosylation, exhibit structural diversity.
  • Glycan-binding proteins (GBPs), including lectins like selectins, galectins, and Siglecs, decode glycan bioinformational content.
  • Glycan-GBP interactions are critical for immune cell recognition, trafficking, and response regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of N- and O-glycosylations and glycosyltransferases in immune cell glycan biosynthesis.
  • To discuss how glycan-GBP interactions modulate immune responses, infections, and cancer.
  • To analyze the significance of glycosylation in antibodies and carbohydrate vaccines.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of glycosylation, glycan-binding proteins, and their roles in immunity.
  • Discussion of specific glycan structures, such as sialyl Lewis x, in cell trafficking.
  • Survey of glycan involvement in infectious diseases and cancer.

Main Results:

  • Glycans and GBPs are central to immune cell function and recognition of self, non-self, and altered-self antigens.
  • The tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewis x plays a key role in immune and tumor cell trafficking.
  • Glycosylation impacts host defense against pathogens and cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding glycan-GBP interactions is essential for developing glycan-targeted therapeutics for inflammatory, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
  • Glycosylation is a critical factor in antibody function and vaccine development.
  • Targeting glycan-mediated processes offers promising therapeutic strategies.