Sialyl Lewis~X: A 'Pre-Orgaeized Water Oligomer'?

摘要

In recent years, lectins, such as selectins, galectins, or siglecs have received increasing attention as drug targets. Among them, selectins are the most extensively studied, since they are key players in the early stages of inflammation and therefore promising targets for the treatment of diseases with an inflammatory component, such as stroke, asthma, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.' The key role of selectins is to promote the initial step of the inflammatory cascade, by allowing leukocytes to roll along the vascular endothelial surface. This step is followed by the integrin-mediated firm adhesion and the final extravasation to the site of the inflammatory stimulus.