Human galectines and their contribution in the chronic colonic inflammation

Galectins are a group of 16 members that all share an amino acid sequence named carbohydrate recognition domain that binds to a beta-galactoside and produces multiple intra- and extra-cellular functions such as modulating inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the large and small intestines that comprises two diseases, Crohn disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative colitis showed a persistent inflammatory process that affects mainly the colon, this chronic colonic inflammation is affected by several internal and environmental factors. Many galectins are classically expressed in certain gut areas. Organ-specific distribution and abundance of some Galectins make them an important material for many researchers and a useful therapeutic target for different diseases, therefore; their role in colonic inflammation is reviewed to manifest their correlation to chronic diseases such as ulcerative colitis.