Galectins: a key intersection between glycobiology and immunology

Galectins are a family of evolutionarily conserved animal lectins, widely d istributed from lower invertebrates to mammals. They share sequence and str ucture similarities in the carbohydrate recognition domain and specificity for polylactosamine-enriched glycoconjugates. In the last few years signifi cant experimental data have been accumulated concerning their participation in different biological processes requiring carbohydrate recognition such as cell adhesion, cell growth regulation, inflammation, immunomodulation, a poptosis and metastasis. In the present review we will discuss some excitin g questions and advances in galectin research, highlighting the significanc e of these proteins in immunological processes and their implications in bi omedical research, disease diagnosis and clinical intervention. Designing n ovel therapeutic strategies based on carbohydrate recognition will provide answers for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory processes, allergic reactions and tumor spreading.