Jp. Zanetta et al., LECTIN ACTIVITIES OF CYTOKINES AND GROWTH-FACTORS - FUNCTION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PATHOLOGY, Histology and histopathology, 11(4), 1996, pp. 1101-1108
The discovery that certain cytokines have carbohydrate-binding (lectin
) properties opens new concepts in the understanding of their mechanis
m of action. The carbohydrate-recognition domain, which is localized o
pposite to the receptor-binding domain, makes these molecules bi-funct
ional. The expression of the biological activity of the cytokine relie
s on its carbohydrate-binding activity which allows the association of
the cytokine receptor with molecular complexes comprising the specifi
c kinase involved in receptor phosphorylation and in specific signal t
ransduction. It is expected that blood accumulation of free or membran
e-bound glycan ligands of cytokines may dramatically perturb their end
ogenous function inducing specific immunodeficiencies.