Sialic acid–containing glycan receptor (Sia-glycan receptor)

Sialic acid–containing glycan receptors are diverse carbohydrate structures found on the surface of host cells, typically at the terminal ends of glycoproteins and glycolipids (NIH, 2024). These receptors play a critical role in various physiological processes, including cell-cell communication, immune response modulation, and signal transduction (MDPI, 2024). However, they are also frequently exploited by pathogens, such as influenza viruses and certain bacteria, as attachment points for host cell entry (NIH, 2024). In the context of pharmacology, these receptors are targeted either by blocking the pathogen's ability to bind to them or by enzymatically removing the sialic acid residues to prevent infection, as seen with the investigational drug DAS181 (ASM, 2024). Additionally, aberrant sialylation patterns are often observed in cancer cells, where they act as "glyco-immune checkpoints" to evade the immune system, making these glycans important targets for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in oncology (BMJ, 2024).

Other names

Sialic acid receptorSialoglycanSialylated glycanN-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) receptorSiglec ligandSialome

The primary mechanisms of action for drugs targeting these receptors include the enzymatic removal of terminal sialic acid residues by sialidases (e.g., DAS181, E-602), the inhibition of sialyltransferase enzymes to prevent the biosynthesis of sialoglycans (e.g., 3F-NeuAc), and the use of decoy receptors or blocking agents to competitively inhibit pathogen binding or immune cell signaling (e.g., AL009).