1. Introduction

Lectins are a diverse group of proteins broadly defined as non-immunoglobulin proteins that exhibit high avidity for glycoprotein- and/or glycolipid-associated carbohydrates, but display no enzymatic activity. Genes encoding lectins been identified in all forms of life, including plants, animals, and viruses, an indication of their evolutionary conservation. Indeed, phylogenetic studies indicated that the primitive immune system depended on lectin-protease-mediated opsonophagocytosis. Lectins differ in tissue expression, ligand affinities, structure and function, and are classified by the phylogeny and primary and tertiary amino acid structures of their carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD). However there are several inconsistencies in this classification system (reviewed in).

Glycosylation is a form of post-translational modification in which glycans—monosaccharides or oligosaccharides—are glycosidically bonded to an organic molecule (reviewed in). This modification plays an essential role in the expression and function of many proteins in eukaryotes and prokaryote cells, with roles in, for example, inter-compound interaction and pathogenic immune evasion. Eukaryotic and viral glycosylation occurs in the host cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. Lectin-glycan interactions are generally achieved by hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals forces, and often depend on cations and multivalent interactions between multiple CRDs and multiple, clustered target glycans in order to achieve sufficient affinities for lectin activity.

The roles of human lectins include protein modulation, cell growth and homeostasis. As glycoproteins are found on the surfaces of several pathogens to a diverse and widespread degree, some lectins act as pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), recognising pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)—including glycans and nucleic acid—related to invading microorganisms and malignant, apoptotic or dead host cells. This can lead to the induction of an immune response against the invading pathogen. However, the relationship between lectins and viruses is complex. In addition to immune evasion, glycosylation is essential for protein expression, assembly and entry steps in virus replication cycles, and many viruses have evolved mechanisms to exploit lectins to enhance infection.

This review focuses on human lectins and their roles during viral infections, concentrating on the well-described lectins mannose-binding lectin (MBL), ficolins and dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN). It highlights the different effects of lectins on viral infections and the consequences of genetic variation in lectin genes on susceptibility to virus infections.

The MBL-Associated Serine Proteases

MASP-1, MASP-3 and MAP-1 are alternative splice products of the MASP1 gene, while MASP-2 and sMAP are encoded by the MASP2 gene. MASP-1 and MASP-2 cleave C3 and C4, respectively, while C2 is cleaved by both. MASP-2 can produce the C3 convertase C4bC2a and thus activate complement (Figure 1).

Upon ligand binding, lectins undergo a conformational change that brings MASP serine protease domains within close proximity of each other, thus allowing proteolytic autoactivation via the cleavage of an arginine-isoleucine bond in the serine protease domain.

MASP-2 activation appears to be primarily dependent on MASP-1, which may autoactivate then trans-activate the MASP-2 proenzyme. This might be mediated either by heterodimeric MASP complexes, MBL-MASP-1-MASP-2 co-complexes, or separate MBL-MASP complexes. If these complexes are separate, the binding sites of MASP-2 and MASP-1 and -3 on the lectin are likely to be within close proximity and overlapping, but not identical.

sMAP and MAP-1 are truncated MASP proteins lacking serine protease domains, and have putative roles in the modulation of MASP-associated complement activation. MAP-1 may inhibit MASP-2 activation by the disruption of inter-MASP and lectin-MASP co-complexes.

The MASPs may also associate the lectin pathway of complement with the coagulation system. MASP-3 has a putative regulatory function of MASP-2 activity, and—due to its involvement in the facial dysmorphic 3MC syndrome—roles for the protein in embryonic development have been hypothesised.

3.1. Genetics, Structure, Expression and Binding Specificities of MBL

MBL is a soluble, Ca2+-dependent protein of the collectin family–characterised as C-type lectins with collagenous domains–encoded by the MBL2 gene on human chromosome 10q11.2–10q21. MBL is primarily expressed in the liver and secreted into the blood, however lower expression has been detected elsewhere, including in mammalian muscle tissue and brain, often following immune challenge.

MBL monomers are 32 kDa in molecular weight and possess a typical collectin structure: an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain, a collagen-like domain (CLD) of approximately 20 Gly-Xaa-Yaa tandem repeats, a neck region and a CRD responsible for ligand binding (Figure 2a). These monomers form homotrimeric subunits that further oligomerise into trimeric to hexameric structures that can activate the complement cascade. Trimeric and tetrameric MBL are the most common physiological configurations (Figure 3a).

The CLDs form MBL trimers by hydrophobic interactions, as initiated by α-helical triple coiled coil formation of the neck domain and stabilised by inter- and intra-monomer bridges via 3 N-terminal cysteines. Oligomeric MBL arranges into a sertiform structure, with trimeric subunits stretching out from the short, bundled N-terminal regions. A short amino acid sequence after the first 7 N-terminal Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats creates a “kink” bend in the CLD, however this is only seen in a minority of MBL molecules in vivo and does not influence MBL activity. Significant flexibility exists at the CLD-neck and CLD-N-terminus regions, influencing CRD positioning, ligand specificity and MASP interaction.

MASP binding is centred around a conserved lysine occupying the Xaa position of a CLD repeat. Ligand binding induces a “stretching” event which splays the MBL trimeric subunits and brings MASPs together to enable proteolytic autoactivation. Trimeric/tetrameric MBL may represent the optimal configuration to accommodate MASP auto-activation.

MBL exhibits specificity for pairs of adjacent equatorial monosaccharide 3- and 4-hydroxyl groups, present in terminal mannose, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetylmannosamine and L-fucose oligosaccharides. This is consistent with the presence of a conserved glutamate-proline-asparagine (EPN) motif in the CRD. MBL also binds phospholipids and nucleic acids, supporting a role in clearance of necrotic tissue. MBL may employ higher order oligomers in order to achieve sufficient ligand binding via multivalent bonding.

Viral Exploitation of MBL

Recombinant MBL has therapeutic potential against Ebola virus (EBOV) infection as it neutralises the virus in vitro and in vivo via complement activation, phagocytosis, and direct inhibition of glycoprotein interaction with the DC-SIGN/L-SIGN receptor. However, MBL may have pro-viral effects, enhancing EBOV infection by mediating macropinocytosis in low complement conditions, perhaps via the C1QBP cell receptor (Figure 4). This may partially explain the high prevalence of allelic variants conferring low MBL levels, as in the context of EBOV lower MBL levels may prevent excessive infection. MBL can also enhance HIV-1 infection of the brain. AIDS-associated dementia complex is characterised by neuronal cell death and cognitive deficits, however HIV-1 infects relatively few brain cells. Instead, HIV-1 sheds gp120 glycoprotein, which is internalised via the CXCR4 receptor on neuronal cells, then bound and shuttled by intracellular MBL in vesicle complexes to the ER and Golgi apparatus, perhaps facilitating gp120-mediated apoptosis (Figure 4).

The Effect of MBL Variant Alleles on Viral Infection

MBL deficiency-associated alleles correlate with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, however these relationships are complex (Table 1). Homozygotes and heterozygotes of the variant alleles increase risk of HIV-1 infection and disease progression. HIV-1 patients carrying the MBL-B allele had higher viral loads in their sera, likely as a result of decreased MBL-mediated viral elimination. The -221 SNP has been correlated with increased risk of perinatal HIV-1 infection, whereas higher MBL levels conferred protection. Low serum level haplotypes of the −550 and −221 SNPs were associated with low CD4+ T-cell counts, higher viral loads and accelerated disease progression. In contrast, some studies found no association between variant alleles and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression. Although MBL levels do not change throughout HIV-1 disease progression, MBL serum levels are elevated in HIV-1-infected patients and are correlated with good response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Some studies suggest a protective effect against HIV-1 disease progression conferred by the variant alleles.

The MBL variants may also influence Dengue virus infection and disease progression. MBL deficiency is also linked to cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation after lung or liver transplantation and susceptibility to SARS-CoV, yet displayed no correlation with IAV H1N1 infection. Correlations between MBL-B homozygotes and the −221 SNP with susceptibility to human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection have been observed.

Some studies suggested that MBL variants do not influence susceptibility to HCV infection or disease progression, however others show an association with HCV infection, disease progression and treatment response. One study associated MBL-B and -D with protection against HCV infection, while associating MBL-C with increased susceptibility. MBL-B is associated with chronic hepatitis B disease progression, whereas MBL-D displayed a Caucasian-specific association with hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence. All variants and the −221 SNP may influence HBV-associated hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and MBL serum levels have a role in perinatal HBV infection. However, one study found no correlation between variants and chronic HBV infection.

When studying the association of polymorphisms with disease severity, the geographical population, ethnicity, disease severity, asymptomatic patients, age, route of transmission, study techniques and sample size must be taken into account. These confounding factors can, in part, explain discrepancies between studies.

4.1. Genetics, Structure, Expression and Binding Specificities of Ficolins

Three human ficolins have been described: L-ficolin, M-ficolin and H-ficolin. Several orthologues have been identified in genetically diverse lineages of animals, an indication of the ancient ancestral origins of these lectins. These include the invertebrate ascidians, and vertebrates such chickens, non-human primates and pigs. The human ficolins differ in several ways, for example in their localisation in the human body and their capacity to trigger an immune response.

The M-, L- and H-ficolin proteins are encoded by the FCN1, FCN2 and FCN3 genes, respectively, encoding polypeptides of 326, 313 and 299 amino acids, including the signal peptide (Figure 2b) (reviewed in). The FCN1 and FCN2 genes are both situated on chromosome 9q34 whereas FCN3 is found on chromosome 1p36.11. The FCN2 and FCN3 genes consist of eight exons, whereas FCN1 comprises nine exons.

Each ficolin monomer comprises an N-terminal region with two functionally important cysteine residues, a CLD containing Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats, a linker region and, characteristically, a C-terminal globular fibrinogen-like domain. Like CRDs, the fibrinogen-like (FBG) domain recognises specific pathogen-associated carbohydrates, and the CLD is responsible for signalling to induce an immune response via MASP proteins. Active, oligomeric L-ficolin and M-ficolin are dodecamers comprised of four homotrimeric subunits to form what has been labelled as a “bouquet” structure (Figure 3b), whereas H-ficolin is octadecameric (Figure 3c). Like MBL, ficolin homotrimers are stabilised by interactions between hydrophobic residues in the CLDs, and oligomerise by inter-monomer and -trimer disulphide bridges between the N-terminal cysteine residues.

Hepatocytes are the main site of expression and secretion of both L- and H- ficolin, although H-ficolin is also highly expressed in type II alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. Despite minor lung and blood expression, most M-ficolin is associated with the surface of peripheral blood leukocytes. H-ficolin is the most abundant serum ficolin (median concentration of ~26 µg/mL; range 6–83 µg/mL) followed by L-ficolin (median of 3.7–5.4 μg/mL; range ~1–13 µg/mL) and M-ficolin (median of 1.07 µg/mL; range 0.28–4.05 µg/mL).

All ficolins bind GlcNAc and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). H-ficolin also binds GalNAc and D-fucose, but not mannose and lactose. M-ficolin also binds sialic acid. These differing ligand specificities are conferred by sequence differences in the binding site—S1—near the Ca2+-binding site of the FBG. In addition to S1, L-ficolin has 3 inner binding sites, S2–S4, which exhibit great structural plasticity, thus allowing the sites to accommodate a wide variety of ligands in both Ca2+-dependent and -independent ways such as phosphocholine moieties of bacterial teichoic acids, in addition to acetylated compounds. For example, S2 is the major binding site for galactose and N-acetylcysteine, whereas S3 and S4 cooperate to bind (1,3)-β-d-glucan, among others.

4.2. The Roles of Ficolins in the Immune Response

Like MBL, ficolins indirectly activate the lytic complement pathway via MASP activation, induce phagocytosis by opsonisation, and stimulate the production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide by macrophages. Interaction with phagocytes is believed to be mediated by a functionally significant lysine in the CLD, at residues 57 and 47 for L- and H-ficolin respectively, which binds calreticulin on phagocyte cell surfaces. The same residue is responsible for interaction with MASPs, therefore it is possible that the phagocytic and complement effects of L-ficolin are competitive. L-ficolin may also clear apoptotic and necrotic host cells through the binding of apoptosis-associated ligands. Furthermore, L-ficolin directly prevents viral entry into host cells.

4.3. Ficolin Interaction with Viruses

The role of ficolins in the clearance of several pathogens has become increasingly evident; however their role in viral clearance requires greater investigation. L-ficolin interacts with viruses via N-linked glycans on viral envelope glycoproteins. L-ficolin binding of HCV triggers infected-cell lysis via C4 deposition, however L-ficolin interaction is abrogated if the HCV E2 glycoprotein is not glycosylated. Biologically relevant levels of recombinant oligomeric L-ficolin, which displayed similar binding activity and structure to serum L-ficolin, neutralised HCV entry in a dose-dependent manner by preventing E2 interaction with cell surface lipoprotein receptor and scavenger receptor B1, which are important for HCV entry. Monomeric L-ficolin can activate complement but not inhibit HCV entry.

Human L-ficolin and porcine ficolin-α neutralise replication and infection of IAV in vivo and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in vitro, respectively. L-ficolin directly inhibits IAV entry and promotes complement-mediated lysis of IAV and infected cells. IAV binds sialylated glycans on serum H-ficolin in the airway before viral entry, enabling H-ficolin mediated inhibition of IAV infectivity by direct blocking, viral aggregation and complement activation. As yet unpublished research by Ren et al. implicates L-ficolin mediated complement activation following interaction with HIV-1 gp120.

Few M-ficolin interactions with pathogens have been observed, despite its ability to activate complement. M-ficolin inhibits IAV infection. The majority of M-ficolin is monocyte and granulocyte membrane-bound, despite its lack of a transmembrane (TM) domain, and associates with sialylated membranes via its FBG domain. A candidate receptor of M-ficolin is G-protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPCR43) which, upon M-ficolin-mediated pathogenic interaction, indirectly activates IL-8 production. Serum M-ficolin binds sialic acid on capsulated Streptococcus agalactiae via its FBG and activates complement, however L- and H-ficolin were found not to interact with this pathogen.

4.4.1. The Significance of FCN Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Viral Infections

There have been several clinical studies monitoring the part that ficolins play in disease outcome, typically focussing on one or both of two factors: ficolin gene polymorphisms (Table 1) and ficolin serum concentrations.

One FCN2 haplotype is associated with protection against HBV infection. L-ficolin levels were higher in patients with acute rather than chronic HBV infection, suggesting that the protein is directly involved in immediate clearance of the virus, and influences subsequent liver disease. The L-ficolin Ala258Ser mutation appears to confer a protective effect against CMV re-infection in liver transplantation when compared to wild-type L-ficolin.

The Thr236Met mutation reduced affinity towards pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a serum protein which enhances L-ficolin-mediated complement response to Aspergillus fumigatus, suggesting that FCN2 polymorphisms also alter affinity towards cooperative proteins and thus affect the immune response. Interestingly, the +6424T SNP is associated with low serum levels of L-ficolin, yet also increased L-ficolin binding. It has been hypothesised that this unexpected correlation is due to higher activity and “exhaustion” of the L-ficolin protein as a result of its increased binding affinity.

Although there are few investigations of the role of L-ficolin in viral infections, FCN2 polymorphisms were found to be significant in susceptibility to and disease severity of bacterial diseases, including cutaneous leishmaniasis, Mycobacterium

leprae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated bronchiectasis, and Streptococcus pygones-associated rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease. However, the SNPs were not associated with invasive pneumococcal disease and other respiratory tract infections. These studies have been relatively small-scale and geographically limited, and often did not measure the serum concentrations of L-ficolin to confirm the relationship of the polymorphisms and haplotypes with L-ficolin levels, therefore more rigorous larger scale studies would yield more reliable results.

M-ficolin SNPs have not yet been reported to have roles in viral infections, however the −144C SNP is associated with protection against M. leprae-associated leprosy, whereas −1981A, −271delT and −542G correlate with susceptibility, perhaps by altering transcription factor affinity. The −144C SNP has been associated with increased M-ficolin serum levels. The Ala218Thr and Asn289Ser non-synonymous mutations reduced serum levels and ligand binding activity, whereas Ser268Pro abolished serum levels. The −1981A and +7918 SNPs were correlated with rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, expression the FCN1 gene, among others, is up-regulated in chronic HCV patients who possess the CC genotype at the IL28B rs12979860 promoter SNP, which is associated with favourable response to pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin treatment. This suggests a possible role of M-ficolin in the clearance of HCV, however further studies are needed. No studies have correlated H-ficolin SNPs with infectious diseases.

4.4.2. The Significance of Ficolin Serum Concentrations in Viral Infections

Serum ficolin levels are dependent on the expressed alleles; homozygotes for particular SNPs exhibit the highest or lowest levels whereas heterozygotes display intermediate levels of ficolin. Specific FCN2 SNPs that are associated with low levels of L-ficolin tend to cause higher susceptibility to infection. L-ficolin levels are significantly increased in the serum of HCV-infected individuals, and concentrations correlate with the severity of fibrosis. Chronic HCV-associated liver damage also did not reduce the levels of L-ficolin expressed. In chronic HCV-infected patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, serum concentrations of L-ficolin correlated with ALT levels. ALT is a known marker of fibrosis and inflammation. After successful therapy, ALT and HCV RNA levels of these patients all decreased to normal values, followed by a decrease in L-ficolinlevels, suggesting a correlation of ALT and RNA levels with disease outcome, as a result of L-ficolin activity.

Higher L-ficolin serum concentrations also appear to confer protective effects against microorganism-induced inflammation in allergic respiratory disease. L-ficolin levels were higher in acute severe cases of Plasmodium falciparum-based malaria, rather than mild cases. Low H-ficolin serum levels correlate with fever and neutropenia in paediatric cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

4.5. Cooperative Relationships between Lectins and Other Immune Proteins

A consequence of complement activation is the subsequent activation of the humoral immune system against a pathogen, thus enhancing the adaptive immune response and memory. Lectins can also directly interact with immune components and enhance the antimicrobial response. MBL can bind the serum PRRs PTX3 and serum amyloid P component (SAP) via its CLD to promote complement activation and opsonophagocytosis of Candida albicans (Figure 5a). PTX3 required C1q to enhance activation of the classical complement pathway.

Natural antibodies are produced without prior exposure to infection or immunisation, and are important in the protection of individuals exposed to pathogens for first time, such as neonates. They are able to initiate complement alone, however under mild acidosis and reduced calcium levels—conditions found at infection-inflammation sites—an additional binding site is exposed on the ficolin FBG to allow complex formation with natural immunoglobulin G (nIgG). This allows indirect nIgG-based phagocytosis via L-ficolin opsonisation, leading to a stronger immune response (Figure 5b). PTX3 interacts with L-ficolin to enhance its binding of Aspergillus fumigatus and its induction of C4 deposition. Similarly, M-ficolin binds sialic acid on PTX3 in a Ca2+-dependent manner via its FBG domain. M-ficolin:PTX3 complexes enhance phagocytosis of apoptotic and necrotic cells. H-ficolin may also cooperate with PTX3, however specific interaction between the two has not been reported.

Similar to nIgG:ficolin complexes, infection-inflammation conditions significantly increase interaction between the acute phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) and L-ficolin, leading to a stronger classical- and lectin-mediated complement response against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A pH- and calcium-sensitive binding site on the ficolin FBG domain enables binding to CRP. Later phase infection-inflammation conditions also enhance interaction between membrane GPCR43-associated M-ficolin and CRP, thus blocking M-ficolin binding of PAMPs and curtailing GPCR43-mediated IL-8 production, and allowing the restoration of homeostasis upon infection and injury.

5.1. Genetics, Structure, Expression and Binding Specificities of DC-SIGN

Dendritic cells (DCs) express PRRs, such as DC-SIGN, which play a role in antigen capture and internalisation. This contributes to maturation and migration of DCs to secondary lymphoid organs where they present antigen to resting T-cells. The DC-T-cell interaction is mediated by the transient interaction of DC-SIGN with ICAM-3 on the T-cell surface.

Human DC-SIGN—encoded by the CD209 gene—is a C-type lectin, the monomeric structure of which comprises a C-terminal, Ca2+-dependent CRD followed by a flexible neck region which forms an α-helical coiled coil upon trimerisation and which consists of 7.5 23-amino acid repeats involved in oligomerization. A TM region follows, then a cytoplasmic N-terminal region responsible for internalisation via di-leucine and tyrosine motifs (Figure 2c). Adjacent to CD209 on chromosome 19p13 is the CD299 gene, encoding the membrane-bound C-type lectin L-SIGN (DC-SIGNR)—a protein that is highly homologous to DC-SIGN. This protein performs similar roles to DC-SIGN, but differs in tissue distribution and expression, being expressed mainly in liver and lymph nodes.

Active, tetrameric DC-SIGN (Figure 3d) is organised on DC surfaces in nanoclusters, mediated by the neck region and permitting interactions with pathogens of a variety of sizes, as large as 300 nm across as seen with the measles virus (MV). The level of DC-SIGN expression is important to optimal virus binding, which partially explains the relatively more efficient HIV-1 binding exhibited by DCs rather than other DC-SIGN+ cells. Furthermore, the virus-binding capacity of DC-SIGN is also governed by the cell type in which the virus replicated, as each cell type causes subtle changes in the glycosylation profile of viral glycoproteins.

DC-SIGN preferentially binds fucosylated and high mannose-type oligosaccharides using different binding sites, with differing avidity depending on the configuration of the mannose and fucose residues in the glycan ligand, as well as the presentation of the target molecule on the pathogen surface.

5.2. Exploitation of DC-SIGN by Viruses

DC-SIGN is exploited by several pathogens for host cell binding and entry. The current, generally accepted model of DC-SIGN-mediated HIV-1 infection utilises DC-SIGN+ cells, such as DCs, to transport virions from sites of HIV-1 exposure—at the mucosal membranes or bloodstream—to CD4+ T-cell targets in the lymphoid tissues (reviewed in). In addition to the primary HIV-1 receptor CD4 and CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptors, DC-SIGN also recognises HIV-1 gp120, resulting in the activation of downstream processes. Most HIV-1 virions are shuttled to the proteasome, aided by the interaction of the cytoskeletal phosphoprotein LSP1 with HIV-1-bound DC-SIGN, where it is degraded for MHC class II presentation to T-cells. Alternatively, HIV-1 exploits the DC-SIGN signalosome—comprising DC-SIGN, LSP1, KSR1 and CNK—to activate Raf-1 and modulate cytokine response, and to enhance NF-κB-mediated transcription of the HIV-1 genome. Independently, HIV-1-bound DC-SIGN modulates TLR-induced cytokine and HIV-1 genome expression (Figure 6).

DC-SIGN binding to HIV-1 can also enhance CD4-gp120 glycoprotein interactions and CCR5-mediated entry. As a result, DC-SIGN-bound, intact HIV-1 virions are non-fusogenically internalised into a specialised, non-lysosomal, low-pH endosome, where virions are able to maintain stability and infectivity for several days without the need for replication. Whether an HIV-1 virion is degraded or maintained in a DC is dependent on several factors, including the N-linked glycan composition of gp120.

DC-internalised, stable HIV-1 is can be transferred to T-cells. Upon DC-T-cell contact, protected HIV-1 virions, adhesion molecules and receptors rapidly accumulate at the DC-T-cell interface, enabling HIV-1 transfer across the infectious synapse and gp120 binding to T-cell receptors. HIV-1 Nef may prevent DC-SIGN-bound HIV-1 internalisation to enhance trans-infection. Trans-infection is more likely to occur in more mature DCs, which are more efficient at protecting the virus by endocytosis whereas immature DCs are more efficient at degradation. In contrast, HIV-1 binding to DC-SIGN may slow DC maturation by—for example—reducing expression of CD86 and MHC class II, in order to prevent immune response and prime the cell for trans-infection. Other lectins are implicated in HIV-1 trans-infection, such as the mature DC-expressed sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 1 (Siglec-1), which binds sialyllactose-containing gangliosides on the HIV-1 surface. Interestingly, a feature of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the gradual depletion of DC levels, increasing the risk of opportunistic infection. This is a result of gp120-DC-SIGN interaction in certain conditions to prime the DC for apoptosis, through excessive activation of the pro-apoptotic kinase ASK-1.

Several other viruses utilise DC-SIGN for different purposes. For example, many viruses use DC-SIGN as an attachment factor and for trans-infection, such as MV, EBOV, SARS-CoV, IAV, HCV and CMV. Others use DC-SIGN for fusion and internalisation, such as human herpesvirus-8 and HCV. L-SIGN is similarly exploited by many viruses as a glycoprotein-mediated attachment and internalisation receptor, as is observed with HIV-1, HCV, SARS-CoV, Marburg virus and EBOV. However, DC-SIGN and L-SIGN differ in viral interaction and polymorphisms, as the neck region of L-SIGN is highly variable and polymorphic whereas DC-SIGN is generally conserved. Furthermore, L-SIGN binds and promotes infection of certain viruses more efficiently than DC-SIGN, for example WNV.

5.3. DC-SIGN Variants

Several DC-SIGN isoforms exist as a result of alternative splicing, resulting in both membrane-bound and soluble forms with alternative cytoplasmic and CRD regions, missing TM domains and variable neck domain repeat regions. Relatively little is known of the physiological and immune roles of soluble DC-SIGN (sDC-SIGN). Tetrameric sDC-SIGN has been detected in bodily fluids and the cytoplasm of some DC-SIGN+ cells, however it is unknown how the protein is secreted. Interestingly, CMV interacts with sDC-SIGN via its gB glycoprotein, in the same manner as its interaction with membrane-bound DC-SIGN, possibly to enhance viral uptake by DCs.

Considerable purifying selection pressure has been exerted on the CD209 region encoding the DC-SIGN neck region, preventing the accumulation of polymorphisms in the global population and maintaining the typical neck region size of 7.5 repeats. In fact, the CD209 gene only displays 2% variant heterozygosity, and the prototypic 7.5 neck region repeat allele is present in 99% of the global population. This length and the tetrameric structure constrain the CRDs and partially influence specificity for certain viruses and glycan structures with certain geometric configurations. Despite this conservation, eight low frequency CD209 alleles encoding DC-SIGN proteins with two to 10 neck region repeats have been documented. Different DC-SIGN isoforms can be found on the same cell surface and can affect DC-SIGN multimerisation, and therefore could, in theory, influence susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

5.4. The Significance of DC-SIGN Variants in Viral Infection

The Leu232Val and Arg198Gln mutations of DC-SIGN enhanced HIV-1 capture and trans-infection. While some studies have identified no significant DC-SIGN exon 4 neck region SNPs in the context of HIV-1 it has been observed that DC-SIGN variants with less than five neck region repeats are rare but are more frequent in Chinese populations, and are associated with protection against HIV-1 transmission. Heterozygotes for variants with atypical numbers of neck region repeats above five were also associated with protection against HIV-1 infection. CMV has been observed to interact with sDC-SIGN via its gB glycoprotein, in the same manner as its interaction with membrane-bound DC-SIGN, possibly to enhance viral uptake by DCs.

CD209 promoter SNPs have been implicated in resistance and susceptibility to several infectious diseases, however such correlations are often limited to particular geographical populations. The −336G SNP and AA genotype confer protection against DV-based dengue fever, perhaps due to reduced transcription factor binding and activity, decreased susceptibility of DCs to infection and the suppression of symptoms. The −336 GG/AG genotypes, on the other hand, increase susceptibility to dengue haemorrhagic fever as a result of higher DC-SIGN expression and immune activity against DV. The −139G allele is associated with protection against HIV-1 infection, whereas −336C is implicated in higher susceptibility to parenteral HIV-1 infection. The −139, −201 and −336 SNPs are also implicated in perinatal transmission of HIV-1. The −336 SNP influenced liver disease severity in HCV patients and the −336 AG/GG genotypes pre-empted improved prognosis for SARS-CoV patients.

6. Additional Lectins with Pro-Viral and Antiviral Properties

In addition to DC-SIGN, several membrane-bound lectins are exploited by viruses to enhance infection, such as HIV-1 exploitation of the C-type lectin mannose receptor and Siglec-1, however there are significantly less soluble lectins involved in enhancing infection. Nevertheless, a few candidates, in addition to MBL, have been identified.

The soluble pulmonary collectins SP-A and SP-D both inhibit IAV haemagglutinin activity by viral aggregation and enhancement of the neutrophil immune response. SP-A also has roles in enhancing phagocytosis via the host SP-A receptor 210, which may be exploited by IAV to cause excessive lung inflammation. Furthermore, SP-D can bind and neutralise several strains of HIV-1 through virion agglutination and spatial blocking of gp120-CD4 interaction. However, SP-D enhances HIV-1 trans-infection from DCs to T-cells. Similarly, SP-A prevents HIV-1 cis-infection of CD4+ T-cells, yet enhances cis-infection of DCs and trans-infection of T-cells. SP-A also enhances entry and fusion of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Galectins are soluble lectins of varying structure and oligomerisation that exhibit specificity for glycans containing β-galactoside. Galectin-1 binds both HIV-1 gp120 glycans—through its CRD—and human cell CD4 receptor, thus allowing the protein to directly stabilise and cross-link HIV-1-CD4 interaction and enhance viral attachment and entry. Similarly, galectin-9 cross-links HIV-1 interaction with cell surface-associated protein disulphide isomerase to enhance fusion and entry. Galectin-3, on the other hand, intracellularly bridges HIV-1 Gag p6 interaction with ALG-2-interacting protein X (Alix) to promote HIV-1 budding.

Membrane-associated lectins are generally described to be exploited by viruses for entry. However, some can have significant roles in viral clearance. The C-type lectin langerin is expressed on the surface of Langerhans cells, an epithelial DC subset, and binds the mannose-containing glycans of gp120. Unlike DC-SIGN, langerin mediates internalisation into Birbeck granules for viral degradation and antigen presentation while efficiently preventing HIV-1 transmission. Langerin is also responsible for the capture, but not internalisation, of MV.

7.1. Soluble Lectin Therapy

Virus-associated glycans are emerging as potential targets for antiviral therapy. Preliminary clinical trials of regular MBL replacement therapy for MBL-deficient patients using plasma-purified MBL have been attempted, and resulted in normal, long-term complement activation and opsonisation activities with no obvious adverse or autoimmune effects. The production and purification of safe, active and functional therapeutic MBL is feasible, but requires optimisation. Therapy using recombinant MBL avoids ethical issues and allows cost-effective large-scale production, and phase I trials proved recombinant MBL to be tolerable, safe and effective in the restoration of MBL activity in MBL-deficient patients, with mild to no adverse effects.

Due to its complex structure, recombinant active MBL is complicated and expensive to produce, whereas recombinant chimaeric lectins (RCLs) can exhibit superior protective potency, cost-effectiveness and safety. The antiviral efficacy of RCLs consisting of the structurally similar lectins MBL and L-ficolin has been studied. Like L-ficolin, active MBL/L-ficolin RCLs formed dodecamers, and RCL2 (L-FCN/MBL76) exhibited stronger MBL CRD-mediated ligand binding, likely due to enhanced CRD flexibility. RCL2 possessed a MASP- and calreticulin-binding site consisting of both MBL and L-ficolin fragments, and displayed strong complement activation and opsonophagocytic properties. Physiological levels of RCL2 neutralised EBOV pseudotype infection, and moderately neutralised Hendra and Nipah virus infection. RCL2 and RCL3 (L-FCN/MBL64)—which possesses the MBL MASP-binding site and kink—exhibited anti-IAV activity in vitro by enhancing complement activation, inducing viral aggregation, inhibiting IAV envelope glycoprotein activities and, as a therapeutic advantage, exhibiting a reduced association with MASP-1 to diminish coagulation system activities. RCL3 demonstrated more efficient anti-IAV effects in vivo by maintaining a cytokine and inflammatory balance that is more advantageous for the host.

Similar therapeutic approaches for other lectins have been researched. For example, specific mutagenic engineering of human SP-D enhanced IAV binding and clearance and murine survival in vivo. Porcine SP-D neutralises a wider range of IAV infections more potently than recombinant human SP-D in vitro and ex vivo, however it may be immunogenic in humans, therefore further development is necessary.

Although ficolins have not been used clinically as antiviral therapies, given the promise of MBL therapy there are is the potential for therapeutic administration of ficolins for virus infections. Due to the essential and conserved nature of N-linked glycosylation sites in the life cycles of many enveloped viruses, acetylated sugars are potential targets for direct entry inhibition and viral clearance by L-ficolin administration. Indeed, there are no documented HCV strains resistant to the antiviral effects of the ficolins. Ficolins could be used in combination with antibody therapy. However, the degree to which antibodies interact with these complement components varies. For example, MBL prevents, rather than enhances, the HIV-1 neutralising activity of the 2G12 antibody. Moreover, the importance of complement in the protection against infectious disease varies with each pathogen and each strain. For example, HCV genotypes with more heavily glycosylated E1E2 glycoproteins appear to be more susceptible to lectin-mediated neutralisation.

Interference of the immune system, in particular the complement system, is extremely complex and may lead to potentially harmful and excessive immune activity, therefore strict caution and testing should be imposed. Passive immunotherapy does not actively trigger an immune response to fight infection, and avoids excessive stimulation of the complement system. Therefore L-ficolin could solely act as an entry inhibitor, after site-directed mutagenesis at the Lys-57 residue of the FBG domain, which is responsible for MASP interaction and interaction with phagocytic receptors.

7.2. Therapy Using Xenogeneic Lectins

An alternative approach is the use of carbohydrate-binding agents (CBA), which interact with viral glycoproteins in order to inhibit DC-SIGN interaction. These tend to be xenogeneic, such as the algal and cyanobacterial lectins griffithsin (GRFT), cyanovirin-N (CV-N), scytovirin (SVN), Oscillatoria agardhii agglutinin (OAA) and the synthetic antibiotic pradimicin S, which act as CBA inhibitors of HIV-1 interaction with DC-SIGN in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo. These lectins therefore have potential uses in antiviral microbicides and have elicited non-toxic and non-immunogenic HIV-1 neutralisation in mammals in vitro and in vivo. OAA and the hybrid OPA molecule (a synthetic chimera with the Pseudomonas fluorescens agglutinin) are notable as uniquely they interact with oligosaccharide Man-9, rather than terminal mannoses of Man-8/9.

GRFT also has antiviral activity against HCV, SARS-CoV and several coronaviruses in vitro. In vivo, GRFT reduced viral titres and pathology in Japanese encephalitis-infected, HCV-infected and SARS-CoV-infected mice when administered intraperitoneally, subcutaneously and intranasally, respectively. CV-N inhibited entry by HCV, MV and human herpesvirus 6 in vitro and prevented further infection and mortality of IAV-infected mice and ferrets when administered intranasally, however it was ineffective when administered subcutaneously. Nevertheless, several CBAs have small viral target ranges, likely as a result of diverse viral glycoproteins. For example, certain CBAs inhibited HIV-1 and HCV infection, yet were ineffective against Herpes simplex virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, RSV, parainfluenza virus-3, adenovirus type 5, CMV, herpesvirus type 1 or vaccinia virus.

Mitogenic activity, which affects cytokine expression, and a short plasma half-life are characteristic of non-human immune proteins used in the human milieu. To overcome this, a linker-extended and PEGylated CV-N was produced in order to extend the protein’s half-life, dampen its immunogenicity and cytotoxicity, and yet maintain its antiviral activity.

GRFT elicits a far greater anti-HIV-1 effect than CV-N and SVN, and does not cause significant mitogenic, inflammatory, cytotoxic or irritant effects. Despite the possibility that GRFT is not sufficiently stable for therapeutic administration, subcutaneously-administered GRFT remained active in mice for several days after injection, with minimal adverse effects.

8. Conclusions

With their ancient origins and multiple physiological functions, lectins are part of the evolutionary arms race between the human immune system and infecting viruses. Lectins have evolved the ability to bind diverse ligands and limit viral infections through a range of immune activities. Viruses have evolved highly glycosylated proteins that are able bind lectins to enhance their attachment, entry and transmission, yet can evade lectin-mediated neutralisation. Despite viral exploitation, lectins have the potential to prime the immune system and enhance viral clearance. This emerging field has already yielded novel antiviral therapies, but our understanding of the specificity of these lectins and the virus-host dynamics remains incomplete. Improved understanding of these interactions will aid our development of these proteins as antiviral therapeutics.