The galectins constitute a large family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that function in many systems both intracellularly and following secretion.Galectins contain either one or two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRR) which mediate recognition of N-acetyl-lactosamine-containing glycoproteins. Galectin-2, a lectin binding to ß-galactoside, was found to trigger apoptosis of activated T cells and leaves naive or memory T cells unaltered. Cytokine secretion of activated T cells was significantly shifted to the Th2 profile. In vivo experiments showed a significant decrease of bowel inflammation during the course of several days in galectin-2 treated mice featuring DSS-colitis. Furthermore, contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses were reduced significantly in Galectin-2 treated mice after sensitization to contact allergens.