Ni Y, Tizard I
Glycobiology Laboratory, Carrington Laboratories Inc., College Station, TX 77845, USA.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1996 Dec;55(1-3):205-23. doi: 10.1016/s0165-2427(96)05718-2.
The immune system consists of various types of cells and molecules that specifically interact with each other to initiate the host defense mechanism. Recent studies have shown that carbohydrates and lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins) play an essential role in mediating such interactions. Both lectins and carbohydrates are widely distributed in the mammalian tissues as well as in microorganisms. Carbohydrates, due to their chemical nature, can potentially form structures that are more variable than proteins and nucleic acids. Lectins can exist in either soluble or cell-associated form, and although overall structures vary, invariably possess carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD) with various specificities. The interaction between lectins and carbohydrates have been shown to be involved in such activities as opsonization of microorganisms, phagocytosis, cell adhesion and migration, cell activation and differentiation, and apoptosis. The number of lectins identified in the immune system is increasing at a rapid pace. The development in this area has opened a new aspect in studying the immune system, and at the same time, provided new therapeutic routes for the treatment and prevention of disease.
免疫系统由各种类型的细胞和分子组成，它们相互特异性作用以启动宿主防御机制。最近的研究表明，碳水化合物和凝集素（碳水化合物结合蛋白）在介导此类相互作用中起着至关重要的作用。凝集素和碳水化合物在哺乳动物组织以及微生物中广泛分布。由于其化学性质，碳水化合物有可能形成比蛋白质和核酸更具变异性的结构。凝集素可以以可溶性或细胞相关形式存在，尽管整体结构各不相同，但始终具有具有各种特异性的碳水化合物识别结构域（CRD）。凝集素与碳水化合物之间的相互作用已被证明参与了诸如微生物调理、吞噬作用、细胞粘附和迁移、细胞活化和分化以及细胞凋亡等活动。在免疫系统中鉴定出的凝集素数量正在迅速增加。该领域的发展为研究免疫系统开辟了一个新的方面，同时也为疾病的治疗和预防提供了新的治疗途径。
