Carbohydrate-binding proteins in cell-matrix interactions.

Abstract

1. Carbohydrate-dependent interactions have been more extensively studied during the last decade. Although the roles of carbohydrates in cellular functions are still poorly understood, the finding of carbohydrate-binding proteins in animal cells opened a great number of perspectives. 2. Animal lectins are associated with tumor progression, playing a key role in neoplastic cell interactions with endothelial cells and extracellular matrix glycoproteins such as laminin. 3. Here, we review the role of animal lectins in the migrating phenotype of neoplastic cells and normal cells such as T-lymphocytes.