The role of glycosylation in clinical allergy and immunology

While glycans are among the most abundant macromolecules on the cell with widespread functions, their role in immunity has historically been challenging to study. This is in part due to difficulties assimilating glycan analysis into routine approaches used to interrogate immune cell function. Despite this, recent developments have illuminated fundamental roles for glycans in host immunity. The growing field of glycoimmunology continues to leverage new tools and approaches to uncover the function of glycans and glycan-binding proteins in immunity. Here we utilize clinical vignettes to examine key roles of glycosylation in allergy, inborn errors of immunity, and autoimmunity. We will discuss the diverse functions of glycans as epitopes, as modulators of antibody function, and as regulators of immune cell function. Finally, we will highlight immune modulatory therapies that harness the critical role of glycans in the immune system.