Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate binding proteins of non-immune origin and are commonly consumed worldwide as part of plant-based diets without toxi-city.Even after being digested,these food lectins can retain biological functions in the gut and interact with mucosal epithelial cells,enabling them to enter to systemic circulation and trigger immune modulation.Studies have demonstrated that the interactions between proteins and carbohydrates can have immunomodulatory effects,resulting in the release of cytokines that modulate immune function and impede tumor growth.The potential therapeutic properties of plant-based lectins can improve immu-nity and support physiological and metabolic functions.Dietary lectins have presently emerged as significant immunomodulatory agents with the poten-tial to enhance immune responses against self and co-administered antigens.Their ability to interact with immune cells and modulate immune functions positions them as promising candidates for therapeutic applications in com-bating infections,tumors and metabolic diseases.Furthermore,they may be utilized to administer vaccines and aid in the targeted treatment of diverse immune disorders.Therefore,dietary lectins with specificity to glycan codes of various cellular receptors promise future immunotherapeutic agents for treating and managing cancer and immune diseases to retrieve and sustain health benefits.
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NSTL
Taylor & Francis