The membrane of every living cell, in addition to nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, displays various glycans, i.e. monosaccharides that constitute the glycome. The diversity of the glycome greatly exceeds genome and proteome diversity. Sialic acids are part of the monosaccharides family called sialoglycans that interact with the family of molecules called 'Siglecs'. Siglecs are receptors that display binding preferences for sialic acid modifications and are preferentially expressed on white blood cells of the immune system.  Sialic acid–Siglec interactions play different roles in human physiology as they mediate cell adhesion, cell signaling, or uptake of sialylated pathogens. Abnormal sialic acid–Siglec interactions can contribute to the onset and development of diseases. Further sialoglycans are suggested to play important roles in pathological processes including infection, autoimmunity, and cancer, although many aspects remain unknown. Indeed pathogens and cancer cells, by expressing surface sialic acids, can interact with Siglecs expressed on immune cells to escape immune recognition. Thus the sialic acid–Siglec axis has attracted attention within the scientific community as a potential target for immune modulation in the prevention and treatment of several disorders.

As regards chemical modifications of the natural sialic acid ligands have led to the synthesis of sialic acid mimetics (SAM). These can also be exposed on nanoparticles, polymers, and living cells. In this Special Issue, we analyze the role of sialic acid–Siglec interactions with special reference to immune mediated diseases and cancer and ​to the potential effects of SMA in immunomodulation.

Dr. Alessandra Fierabracci
Guest Editor

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