The function of deciphering the biological information encoded by the glycome, which is the entire repertoire of complex sugar structures expressed by cells and tissues, is assigned in part to endogenous glycan-binding proteins or lectins. Galectins, a family of animal lectins that bind N-acetyllactosamine-containing glycans, have many roles in diverse immune cell processes, including those relevant to pathogen recognition, shaping the course of adaptive immune responses and fine-tuning the inflammatory response. How do galectins translate glycan-encoded information into tolerogenic or inflammatory cell programmes? An improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying these functions will provide further opportunities for developing new therapies based on the immunoregulatory properties of this multifaceted protein family.

Turning 'sweet' on immunity: galectin-glycan interactions in immune tolerance and inflammation.

Functions of cell surface galectin-glycoprotein lattices.

Inflammation is a critical process for eliminating pathogens, but can lead to serious deleterious effects if left unchecked Identifying the endogenous factors that control immune tolerance and inflammation is a key goal in the field of immunology Galectins, a family of endogenous lectins with affinity for beta-galactoside-containing oligosaccharides, are expressed by several cells of the immune system and tissue-resident stromal cells According to their architecture, this family of glycan-binding proteins is classified in those containing one-carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) (proto-type), those containing two-CRD joined by a linker non-lectin domain (tandem-repeat) and those that have one-CRD attached to an N-terminal peptide (chimera-type) Accumulating evidence indicates that galectins play critical regulatory roles in immune cell response and homeostasis In this review, we summarize recent developments in our understanding of the galectins' roles within different immune cell compartments, and in the broader context of the inflammatory microenvironments In particular we illustrate the immunoregulatory role of three representative members of each galectin subfamily: galectin-1, -3 and -9 This body of knowledge, documenting the coming of age of galectins as potential immunosuppressive agents or targets for anti-inflammatory drugs, represents a sound basis to further explore their potential as novel therapies for autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation and cancer

An Emerging Role for Galectins in Tuning the Immune Response: Lessons from Experimental Models of Inflammatory Disease, Autoimmunity and Cancer

Clonal B cells in patients with hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia contain an expanded anergic CD21low B-cell subset.

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1016/j.febslet.2015.08.037

Hao Zhang

Papers

Multifunctional regulators of cell growth are differentially expressed in anergic murine B cells.