| Modification Notes |
Two families of mammalian lectin-like adhesion molecules, the selectins and the sialoadhesins, bind glycoconjugate ligands in a sialic acid-dependent manner. The sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin superfamily lectins, designated siglecs or sialoadhesins, are immunoglobulin superfamily members recognizing sialylated ligands. The common sialic acids of mammalian cells are N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). Siglec-1 mediates local cell-cell interactions in lymphoid tissues and can be detected at contact points of macrophages with other macrophages, sinus-lining cells and reticulum cells. Siglec-7, which is highly expressed in monocytes and resident blood cells but not in parenchymatous cells, mediates inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Due to alternative splicing events, two isoforms exist for Siglec-12, namely SLG-L (the long isoform) and SLG-S (the shorter isoform). These isoforms are differentially expressed with the longer isoform predominantly found in small intestine, spleen and bone marrow, and the shorter isoform predominantly found in small intestine, spleen and adrenal gland. |
