biostudies-literatureLi TAFlight Attendant Medical Research InstituteNIA NIH HHSNIAID NIH HHSNational Disease Research InterchangeFDA HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNIH HHSFood and Drug AdministrationNIGMS NIH HHScwae065https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11364441biostudies-literatureUnknown34(10)Human sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are expressed on subsets of immune cells. Siglec-8 is an immune inhibitory Siglec on eosinophils and mast cells, which are effectors in allergic disorders including eosinophilic esophagitis. Inhibition occurs when Siglec-8 is crosslinked by multivalent Siglec ligands in target tissues. Previously we discovered a high-affinity Siglec-8 sialoglycan ligand on human airways composed of terminally sialylated keratan sulfate chains carried on a single protein, DMBT1. Here we extend that approach to another allergic inflammatory target tissue, human esophagus. Lectin overlay histochemistry revealed that Siglec-8 ligands are expressed predominantly by esophageal submucosal glands, and are densely packed in submucosal ducts leading to GlycobiologySialylated keratan sulfates on MUC5B are Siglec-8 ligands in the human esophagus.PMC11364441R01 FD004086R01 AG064908T32 GM135083HL141952GM135083K12 HL141952FD004086U19 AI136443AG064908U42 OD011158AI136443U42OD11158Schnaar RLAwol AKGonzalez-Gil AAckerman SJLi TAOrsburn BCfalseSialylated keratan sulfates on MUC5B are Siglec-8 ligands in the human esophagus.Human sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are expressed on subsets of immune cells. Siglec-8 is an immune inhibitory Siglec on eosinophils and mast cells, which are effectors in allergic disorders including eosinophilic esophagitis. Inhibition occurs when Siglec-8 is crosslinked by multivalent Siglec ligands in target tissues. Previously we discovered a high-affinity Siglec-8 sialoglycan ligand on human airways composed of terminally sialylated keratan sulfate chains carried on a single protein, DMBT1. Here we extend that approach to another allergic inflammatory target tissue, human esophagus. Lectin overlay histochemistry revealed that Siglec-8 ligands are expressed predominantly by esophageal submucosal glands, and are densely packed in submucosal ducts leading to 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Aug2026-05-29T17:17:36.203Z2026-04-08T05:26:10.631ZS-EPMC113644413917302910.1093/glycob/cwae065