title: DC-SIGN and L-SIGN: the SIGNs for infection.
abstract: Two closely related trans-membrane C-type lectins dendritic cell-specific intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM)-3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN or CD209) and liver/lymph node-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (L-SIGN also known as DC-SIGNR, CD209L or CLEC4M) directly recognize a wide range of micro-organisms of major impact on public health. Both genes have long been considered to share similar overall structure and ligand-binding characteristics. This review presents more recent biochemical and structural studies, which show that they have distinct ligand-binding properties and different physiological functions. Of importance in both these genes is the presence of an extra-cellular domain consisting of an extended neck region encoded by tandem repeats that support the carbohydrate-recognition domain, which plays a crucial role in influencing the pathogen-binding properties of these receptors. The notable difference between these two genes is in this extra-cellular domain. Whilst the tandem-neck-repeat region remains relatively constant size for DC-SIGN, there is considerable polymorphism for L-SIGN. Homo-oligomerization of the neck region of L-SIGN has been shown to be important for high-affinity ligand binding, and heterozygous expression of the polymorphic variants of L-SIGN in which neck lengths differ could thus affect ligand-binding affinity. Functional studies on the effect of this tandem-neck-repeat region on pathogen-binding, as well as genetic association studies for various infectious diseases and among different populations, are discussed. Worldwide demographic data of the tandem-neck-repeat region showing distinct differences in the neck-region allele and genotype distribution among different ethnic groups are presented. These findings support the neck region as an excellent candidate acting as a functional target for selective pressures exerted by pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, University Pathology Building, Hong Kong, SAR, China. uskhoo@pathology.hku.hk
authors.forename: Ui-Soon
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Kelvin Y K
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Vera S F
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C L Steve
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin; C433029:CLEC4M protein, human