Sialic acid-containing cell-surface receptor

Sialic acid-containing cell-surface receptors are a diverse group of glycoproteins and glycolipids that terminate in sialic acid residues, forming a critical part of the cellular glycocalyx. These receptors are ubiquitous on vertebrate cells and play essential roles in mediating cell-cell recognition, adhesion, and immune system regulation through interactions with intrinsic receptors like Siglecs (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins). They are also the primary targets for many pathogens; for instance, influenza viruses use hemagglutinin to bind specific sialic acid linkages to initiate infection. In cancer, the overexpression of these receptors, known as hypersialylation, serves as an immune-evasive signal that protects tumor cells from natural killer cells and macrophages. Therapeutic strategies include the use of sialidases to remove these receptors to prevent viral entry, sialyltransferase inhibitors to reduce tumor sialylation, and antibody-based therapies that disrupt the sialic acid-Siglec axis to enhance anti-tumor immunity.

Other names

Sialoglycan receptorSialylated glycoconjugateSialic acid receptorSialosideSialic acid-containing glycan

Inhibition of viral neuraminidase to prevent cleavage from host receptors; enzymatic desialylation of host cell surfaces to block viral attachment; inhibition of sialyltransferases to reduce tumor-associated hypersialylation; and blockade of the sialic acid-Siglec immune checkpoint axis.