Galectins in allergic inflammatory diseases

Lei Wan; Yu-An Hsu; Chang-Ching Wei; Fu-Tong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.mam.2020.100925

Galectins in allergic inflammatory diseases

Mol Aspects Med. 2021 Jun:79:100925. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100925. Epub 2020 Nov 14.

Authors

Lei Wan¹, Yu-An Hsu², Chang-Ching Wei³, Fu-Tong Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: leiwan@cmu.edu.tw.
² School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Children's Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA. Electronic address: ftliu@ibms.sinica.edu.tw.

PMID: 33203547
DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100925

Abstract

Allergic inflammatory diseases are a global public health concern affecting millions of people. Although there are several potential hypotheses, details regarding their molecular mechanisms are still ambiguous. Recently, a group of β-galactoside-binding proteins, galectins, have been revealed as important factors in altering allergic chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we describe the molecular and cellular basis of how galectins modulate inflammatory reactions. We also provide an overview of clinical features related to galectins. Finally, we discuss the potential issues that might lead to misrepresentation of the exact biological functions of galectins.

Keywords: Allergic diseases; Allergic inflammation; Allergy; Galectin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Allergens*
Galectins* / genetics
Humans
Inflammation*

Substances

Allergens
Galectins