mannose

mannose (CAS No.: 3458-28-4) is a naturally occurring aldohexose monosaccharide widely distributed in plants, animals, and microorganisms, and is commonly utilized in biomedical research as a key metabolite involved in carbohydrate metabolism and protein glycosylation. As an epimer of glucose, mannose is readily converted intracellularly to mannose-6-phosphate and subsequently incorporated into glycoproteins via N-linked glycosylation pathways, making it highly relevant for studies of cellular protein processing and congenital disorders of glycosylation. Functionally, mannose has been shown to modulate immune responses by suppressing T cell proliferation and promoting the expansion of regulatory T cell populations, highlighting its role in immune regulation and tolerance. It also exhibits anti-inflammatory and potential antitumor properties, supporting its investigation in immunometabolism and cancer biology. In preclinical models, mannose supplementation has demonstrated efficacy in correcting glycosylation defects and rescuing developmental abnormalities associated with phosphomannomutase deficiencies, as well as preventing autoimmune diabetes in susceptible animal models, indicating involvement in metabolic and immune signaling pathways. Mannose is additionally under investigation in the context of intrauterine growth restriction and pregnancy-related research, reflecting its importance in developmental biology. In vitro and in vivo studies typically employ concentrations ranging from low micromolar to higher levels depending on the experimental system, with applications spanning cell-based assays, metabolic studies, and disease modeling in drug discovery and translational research.