title: [The role of protein glycosylation in immune system].
abstract: Glycosylation is one of the most frequent post-translational modifications of proteins. The majority of cell surface and secreted proteins involved in immune response is glycosylated. The structural diversity of glycans depends on monosaccharide composition, type of glycosidic linkage and branching. These structural modifications determine a great variability of glycoproteins. The oligosaccharide components of proteins are regulated mostly by expression of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases and many environmental factors. Glycosylation influences the function of all immune cells. Glycans play a crucial role in intercellular contacts and leukocytes migration. These interactions are important in activation and proliferation of leukocytes and during immune response. The key immune proteins, such as TCR, MHC, TLR and antibodies are glycosylated. Sugars on the surface of pathogens and self-surface glycoproteins are recognized by special carbohydrate binding proteins called lectins. Changes of glycan structure are common in many pathological processes occurring in immune system, therefore they are used as molecular markers of different diseases.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ząbczyńska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pocheć
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D011506:Proteins