Modulation of the immune system by ligands of the C-type lectin DC-SIGN.

Abstract

DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin specifically expressed on dendritic cells that recognize high-mannose and fucose glycans. This carbohydrate specificity of DC-SIGN enables recognition of a large array of ligands which include both pathogen-derived as well as endogenous glycoconjugates. Because of the wide expression of DC-SIGN ligands, DC-SIGN is involved in several aspects of the immune system like immune defense, tolerance induction and cell-cell communication. This broadens the role of DC-SIGN since C-type lectin receptors were primarily considered as pattern-recognition receptors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the various implications of DC-SIGN in interacting with foreign and endogenous ligands