title: Animal lectins: potential receptors for ginseng polysaccharides.
abstract: Panax ginsengMeyer, belonging to the genusPanaxof the family Araliaceae, is known for its human immune system-related effects, such as immune-boosting effects. Ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) are the responsible ingredient of ginseng in immunomodulation, and are classified as acidic and neutral GPs. Although GPs participate in various immune reactions including the stimulation of immune cells and production of cytokines, the precise function of GPs together with its potential receptor(s) and their signal transduction pathways have remained largely unknown. Animal lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar moieties. Among many different biological functionsin vivo, animal lectins especially play important roles in the immune system by recognizing carbohydrates that are found exclusively on pathogens or that are inaccessible on host cells. This review summarizes the immunological activities of GPs and the diverse roles of animal lectins in the immune system, suggesting the possibility of animal lectins as the potential receptor candidates of GPs and giving insights into the development of GPs as therapeutic biomaterials for many immunological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Ginsentology Research Laboratory and Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Panax ginseng; animal lectins; ginseng polysaccharides; immune system; therapeutic biomaterials