Glycan-Binding Proteins in Immunity

Glycan-binding proteins (GBPs), including Galectins, sialic acid-binding immunoglobin-type lectins (Siglecs), and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), are key regulators of immune cell development, activation, differentiation, trafficking, and homeostasis. By interpreting glycan-encoded information, these lectins shape immune responses across T, B, and myeloid cell lineages. Galectins, primarily soluble β-galactoside-binding proteins, function through both extracellular and intracellular mechanisms. Siglecs, expressed on various immune cells, recognize sialoglycans and initiate immunoregulatory signaling, while CLRs detect diverse glycans on pathogens and host cells and thereby contribute to immune sensing and modulation. These glycosylation-dependent pathways serve as integrative hubs that couple intrinsic immune programs with environmental and intracellular cues. In this review, we discuss cellular mechanisms by which GBPs govern immune cell fate under homeostatic physiologic conditions, and we emphasize both conserved and context-dependent roles. Moreover, we address how glycan-GBP dysregulation contributes to immune dysfunction and pathology and how targeting these endogenous glycoimmune checkpoints may open new avenues for immunotherapy.