title: The role of lectins in allergic sensitization and allergic disease.
abstract: Allergic diseases are a global public health issue affecting millions of persons around the world. However, full understanding of the molecular basis of this group of chronic inflammatory disorders remains rather elusive. Recently, the role of carbohydrates on allergens and their counterstructures on antigen-presenting cells (lectins) have been highlighted as crucial factors in allergen sensitization, which culminates in TH2 cell differentiation and the production of deleterious specific IgE antibodies. Here we review recent progress on the role of different lectins in patients with type I hypersensitivity or allergy, their interplay with other determinants of allergenicity, and ways of developing therapeutic modalities against newly identified targets.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Herb F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.forename: Farouk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shakib
authors.forename: Amir M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ghaemmaghami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D037102:Lectins / Q000502:physiology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037161:Galectins; D037102:Lectins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin