title: Glycans, galectins, and HIV-1 infection.
abstract: During sexual transmission, HIV-1 must overcome physiological barriers to establish a founder cell population. Viral adhesion represents a bottleneck for HIV-1 propagation that the virus widens by exploiting some specific host factors. Recognition of oligomannosyl glycans of gp120 by C-type lectins is one such example. Recent works suggest that complex glycans of gp120 are recognized by another host lectin, galectin-1. This interaction results in rapid association of HIV-1 to susceptible cells and facilitates infection. The peculiar presentation of complex glycans on gp120 seems to impart specificity for galectin-1, as another member of the same family, galectin-3, is unable to bind gp120 or enhance HIV-1 infection. Other studies have shown that galectin-9 could also increase HIV-1 infectivity but via an indirect mechanism. Thus, current research suggests that galectins play various roles in HIV-1 pathogenesis. Drug discovery approaches targeting host lectins at early steps could benefit the current arsenal of antiretrovirals.
authors.affiliation: Glycobiology and Bioimaging Laboratory Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Sachiko.Sato@crchul.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: St-Pierre
authors.forename: Michel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D037161:Galectins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011134:Polysaccharides; C514793:gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1