Lectin activities of cytokines and growth factors: function and implications for pathology.
The discovery that certain cytokines have carbohydrate-binding (lectin) properties opens new concepts in the understanding of their mechanism of action. The carbohydrate-recognition domain, which is localized opposite to the receptor-binding domain, makes these molecules bi-functional. The expression of the biological activity of the cytokine relies on its carbohydrate-binding activity which allows the association of the cytokine receptor with molecular complexes comprising the specific kinase involved in receptor phosphorylation and in specific signal transduction. It is expected that blood accumulation of free or membrane-bound glucan ligands of cytokines may dramatically perturb their endogenous function inducing specific immunodeficiencies.
Zanetta
J P
JP
Centre de Neurochimie du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
Scior
T
T
Wantyghem
J
J
Wermuth
C
C
Aubery
M
M
Strecker
G
G
Michalski
J C
JC
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010336:Pathology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008363:alpha-Mannosidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D037102:Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases