Host cell surface sialic acid and heparan sulfate-containing glycans

Host cell surface sialic acid and heparan sulfate-containing glycans are complex carbohydrate structures that form a critical part of the cellular glycocalyx and serve as essential mediators of host-pathogen interactions. Sialic acids are nine-carbon acidic sugars typically found at the terminal positions of cell-surface glycoproteins and glycolipids, acting as primary receptors for viruses such as influenza and certain coronaviruses (PubMed: 24469055). Heparan sulfate is a linear, highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan that functions as a versatile co-receptor for various growth factors and as an initial attachment factor for a broad range of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and herpes simplex virus (PubMed: 32929206). In therapeutic contexts, these glycans are targeted to inhibit viral entry, either by using decoy mimetics that sequester the virus or by using enzymes to deplete the receptors from the cell surface (PubMed: 21414105). Beyond infectious diseases, these molecules play significant roles in cancer metastasis and inflammatory signaling, as their expression patterns often change during disease progression (PubMed: 33053377). This target entry is considered composite as it encompasses two distinct classes of glycans with different biological roles and pharmacological profiles. Pharmacological intervention must account for the ubiquitous nature of these molecules to avoid disrupting essential physiological processes like cell signaling and blood coagulation. Overall, they represent a broad class of targets for the development of entry inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents.

Other names

Cell surface glycansSialoglycansHeparan sulfate proteoglycansViral attachment factorsGlycocalyx components

The mechanism of action involves the competitive inhibition of pathogen binding through the use of glycan mimetics or the enzymatic removal of host cell surface receptors to prevent viral attachment and entry.