Immune regulation of intestinal glycosylation
The host immune system regulates mucin glycosylation. Cytokines such as
IL-4, IL-15, and IL-22 regulate mucosal immunity by supporting mucus
secretion and IL-10 by preventing MUC2 misfolding in the goblet cells
(Fig. 1B)125-128. On the other hand, pro-inflammatory
cytokines IL-6 and TNF-⍺ can modulate the glycosyltransferase activity
leading to alterations in mucin glycosylation (Fig.
2B)129. As demonstrated in IBD patients, these
alterations occur early in the disease course with hypo-sialylated
glycans increased and fucosylated glycans decreased in
expression129. TACAs, like T antigen and sialyl Tn
(STn) antigen, were overexpressed on MUC2 in patients with
CRC130.