Targeting The Glyco-immune Checkpoints, Siglecs, to Enhance Anti-Viral Innate Immune Functions

Most known immune checkpoints exert their effects upon protein-protein interactions, such as the PD1 checkpoint on CD8+ T cells suppresses their functions upon binding to the PDL-1 molecule on target cells. However, recently, it became clear that another emerging class of immune checkpoints exert their effects upon protein-glycan (sugar) interactions, and therefore they are called glyco-immune checkpoints. Every immune cell expresses several sugar-binding proteins called lectins on its surface, and the binding between these lectins and their glycan ligands (on target cells) plays an essential role in the ability of these immune cells to recognize and lyse their target cells. The role of several of these glyco-immune checkpoints in regulating anti-tumor immunity has been highlighted in the last few years; however, their role in modulating anti-viral immunity is less clear. In this presentation, we highlight the potential role of these glyco-immune checkpoints in modulating immunological responses during viral infections. In particular, we will discuss the potential role of a particular emerging class of glyco-immune checkpoints, called Siglecs, in regulating anti-viral immunity by natural killer cells against HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

 

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