Isolectin IB4-mediated cytotoxic targeting of sensory neurons

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that recognize distinct oligosaccharide moieties of glycoproteins and glycolipids. In vertebrates, endogenous lectins serve a variety of functions, including cell adhesion, cell recognition, signal transduction, and endocytosis, in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells (1-5). A role for cell surface carbohydrate recognition has been described in processes, such as fertilization, development, leukocyte homing, and the innate immune response (1,2). Among the known classes of vertebrate carbohydrate-binding proteins are some cytokines (e.g., interleukin 1β [IL-1β]) and growth factors, which possess a receptor-binding domain and a carbohydrate recognition domain (4,5).