Sialoglycans and Siglecs Can Shape the Tumor Immune Microenvironment
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Sialic acid sugar-carrying glycans, sialoglycans, are aberrantly expressed on many tumor cells and have emerged as potent regulatory molecules involved in creating a tumor-supportive microenvironment. Sialoglycans can be recognized by sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs), a family of immunomodulatory receptors. Most mammalian Siglecs transmit inhibitory signals comparable with the immune checkpoint inhibitor programmed death protein 1 (PD-1), but some are activating. Recent studies have shown that tumor cells can exploit sialoglycan–Siglec interactions to modulate immune cell function, contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Interference with sialoglycan synthesis or sialoglycan–Siglec interactions might improve antitumor immunity. Many questions regarding specificity, signaling, and regulatory function of sialoglycan–Siglec interactions remain. We posit that sialoglycans and Siglecs present as potential glyco-immune ‘checkpoints’ for cancer immunotherapy.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Trends in Immunology |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 274-285 |
ISSN | 1471-4906 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
ID: 237092634