Abstract
Cell surfaces in the immune system are richly equipped with a complex mixture of glycans, which can be recognized by diverse glycan-binding proteins. The Siglecs are a family of sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins that are thought to promote cell-cell interactions and regulate the functions of cells in the innate and adaptive immune systems through glycan recognition. In this Review, we describe recent studies on signalling mechanisms and discuss the potential role of Siglecs in triggering endocytosis and in pathogen recognition. Finally, we discuss the postulated functions of the recently discovered CD33-related Siglecs and consider the factors that seem to be driving their rapid evolution.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Review
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Antigens, CD / immunology
-
Antigens, CD / metabolism
-
Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / immunology
-
Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
-
Cell Communication / immunology*
-
Endocytosis
-
Humans
-
Lectins / chemistry
-
Lectins / immunology*
-
Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
-
Lymphocytes / immunology
-
Lymphocytes / metabolism
-
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / chemistry
-
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / metabolism
-
Protein Structure, Tertiary
-
Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / immunology
-
Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / metabolism
-
Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3
-
Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins
-
Signal Transduction / immunology*
Substances
-
Antigens, CD
-
Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
-
CD33 protein, human
-
Lectins
-
Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2
-
Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3
-
Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins
-
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid