Galectins as novel regulators of immune cell homeostasis and inflammation

GABRIEL A. RABINOVICH; MARTA A. TOSCANO; JUAN M. ILARREGUI; LINDA G. BAUM

ANIMAL LECTINS: A FUNCTIONAL VIEW

CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Publishers

Año: 2007;

Galectins, a family of animal lectins with affinity for b-galactoside-containing oligosaccharides, are expressed by several cells of the immune system and tissue-resident stromal cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that galectins might play critical regulatory roles in immune cell tolerance and homeostasis. In this chapter, 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. 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 immunoregulatory properties in the development of novel therapies for autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation and cancer.