• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.553-558
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• 2009

In the periphery, a galectin-1 receptor, CD7, plays crucial roles in galectin-1-mediated apoptosis of activated T-cells as well as progression of T-lymphoma. Previously, we demonstrated that $NF-{\kappa}B$ downregulated CD7 gene expression through the p38 MAPK pathway in developing immature thymocytes. However, its regulatory pathway is not well understood in functional mature T-cells. Here, we show that CD7 expression was downregulated by Twist2 in Jurkat cells, a human acute T-cell lymphoma cell line, and in EL4 cells, a mature murine T-cell lymphoma cell line. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Twist2 in Jurkat cells reduced galectin-1-induced apoptosis. While full-length Twist2 decreased CD7 promoter activity, a C-terminal deletion form of Twist2 reversed its inhibition, suggesting an important role of the C-terminus in CD7 regulation. In addition, CD7 expression was enhanced by histone deacetylase inhibitors such as trichostatin A and sodium butyrate, which indicates that Twist2 might be one of candidate factors involved in histone deacetylation. Based on these results, we conclude that upregulation of Twist2 increases the resistance to galectin-1-mediated-apoptosis, which may have significant implications for the progression of some T-cells into tumors such as Sezary cells.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.52-65
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the origins of myofibroblasts in renal interstitial fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alleviating EMT has been proved, but the concrete mechanism is unclear. To explore the mechanism, serum-free MSCs conditioned medium (SF-MSCs-CM) was used to treat rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) which ameliorated EMT. Methods and Results: Galectin-3 knockdown (Gal-3 KD) and overexpression (Gal-3 OE) lentiviral vectors were established and transfected into NRK-52E. NRK-52E fibrosis model was induced by TGF-β1 and treated with the SF-MSCs-CM for 24 h after modelling. Fibrosis and autophagy related indexes were detected by western blot and immunocytochemistry. In model group, the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), Galectin-3, Snail, Kim-1, and the ratios of P-Akt/Akt, P-GSK3β/GSK3β, P-PI3K/PI3K, P-mTOR/mTOR, TIMP1/MMP9, and LC3B-II/I were obviously increased, and E-Cadherin (E-cad) and P62 decreased significantly compared with control group. SF-MSCs-CM showed an opposite trend after treatment compared with model group. Whether in Gal-3 KD or Gal-3 OE NRK-52E cells, SF-MSCs-CM also showed similar trends. However, the effects of anti-fibrosis and enhanced autophagy in Gal-3 KD cells were more obvious than those in Gal-3 OE cells. Conclusions: SF-MSCs-CM probably alleviated the EMT via inhibiting Galectin-3/Akt/GSK3β/Snail pathway. Meanwhile, Gal-3 KD possibly enhanced autophagy via inhibiting Galectin-3/Akt/mTOR pathway, which synergistically ameliorated renal fibrosis. Targeting galectin-3 may be a potential target for the treatment of renal fibrosis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.227-232
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• 2012

Galectins are generally believed to be potential candidates for use in the development of novel antiinflammatory agents or as selective modulators of the immune response. In particular, galectin-9 exhibits some of the extracellular functions, including cell aggregation, adhesion, chemoattraction, activation, and apoptosis. Tl-galectin (Tl-gal, galectin-9 homologue gene) was isolated from an adult worm of the Toxascaris leonina. The full-length Tl-gal gene, which was incorporated into pET-28a, was overexpressed in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity and gel filtration chromatographies. The purified Tl-gal was crystallized using the hangingdrop vapor-diffusion method. The crystal belonged to the tetragonal space group $P4_1$, with unit-cell parameters of a = b = $75.7\AA$ and c = $248.4\AA$. The crystals were obtained at $20^{\circ}C$ and diffracted to a resolution of $3.0\AA$. The asymmetric unit contained four molecules of Tl-gal, which gave a crystal volume per protein mass (Vm) of $2.8\AA^3Da^{-1}$ and a solvent content of 54.1%.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.160-163
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• 2008

The cytologic diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) has become one of the common causes of false negative diagnoses when performing fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid gland. We retrospectively reviewed all the aspirates for which a diagnosis of FVPTC had been made based on the surgically excised specimens, regardless of the cytologic diagnosis. 145 FNACs was performed in 135 patients. The cytologic diagnoses were categorized as 2 unsatisfactory specimens (1.4%), 16 benign (11.0%), 49 atypical (33.8%) and 78 malignant lesions (53.8%). The tumor cells consistently showed significant nuclear overlapping, irregular nuclei and fine chromatin in all cases; however, nuclear grooves and inclusions were scarce. Galectin-3 immunostaining was performed on the cell blocks of 65 cases and this was positive for 45 cases (69.2%). The results of our study demonstrate that the determination of minimal cytologic criteria is needed to raise the sensitivity of detecting FVPTC by FNAC, and galectin-3 immunostaining is useful to make decisions on the surgical treatment of cytologically atypical thyroid nodules.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.687-691
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• 2012

The present study evaluated the localization of luteinizing hormone receptors (LHR) and galectin-3 (Gal-3), a beta-galactoside-binding animal lectin, in the mature mouse ovaries by immunohistochemical analysis. Intense LHR immunoreactivity was detected in the active corpus luteum (CL), whereas expression of Gal-3 was high in the regressing CL and atretic follicle. In the CL of pregnant mice, LHR immunoreactivity was intense, but Gal-3 expression was low. Thus, LHR and Gal-3 had opposite patterns of expression in mature mouse ovaries, suggesting that both proteins have stage-specific expression patterns and are possibly involved in CL formation and regression.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.559-571
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• 2022

Galectins, a family of ß-galactoside-binding lectins, have emerged as soluble mediators in infected cells and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) responsible for evoking and regulating innate immunity. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of galectin-1 in the host immune response of redlip mullet (Liza haematocheilia). We established a cDNA database for redlip mullet, and the cDNA sequence of galectin-1 (LhGal-1) was characterized. In silico analysis was performed, and the spatial and temporal expression patterns in gills and blood in response to lipopolysaccharide polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, and Lactococcus garvieae were estimated via quantitative real-time PCR. Functional assays were conducted using recombinant protein to investigate carbohydrate binding, bacterial binding, and bacterial agglutination activity. LhGal-1 was composed of 135 amino acids. Conserved motifs (H-NPR, -N- and -W-E-R) within the carbohydrate recognition domain were found in LhGal-1. The tissue distribution revealed that the healthy stomach expressed high levels of LhGal-1. The temporal monitoring of LhGal-1 mRNA expression in the gill and blood showed its significant upregulation in response to immune challenges with different stimulants. rLhGal-1 exhibited binding activity in response to carbohydrates and bacteria. Moreover, the agglutination of rLhGal-1 against Escherichia coli was observed. Collectively, our findings suggest that LhGal-1 may function as a PRR in redlip mullet. Furthermore, LhGal-1 can be considered a significant gene to play a protective role in redlip mullet immune system.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.35.1-35.13
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• 2024

Importance: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis characterized by inflammation within the central nervous system. However, inflammation in non-neuronal tissues, including the lungs, has not been fully evaluated. Objective: This study evaluated the inflammatory response in lungs of EAE mice by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry. Methods: Eight adult C57BL/6 mice were injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein_35-55 to induce the EAE. Lungs and spinal cords were sampled from the experimental mice at the time of sacrifice and used for the western blotting, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory lesions in the lungs of EAE mice, characterized by infiltration of myeloperoxidase (MPO)- and galectin-3-positive cells, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Increased numbers of collagen fibers in the lungs of EAE mice were confirmed by histopathological analysis. Western blotting revealed significantly elevated level of osteopontin (OPN), cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), MPO and galectin-3 in the lungs of EAE mice compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed both OPN and CD44 in ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1-positive macrophages within the lungs of EAE mice. Conclusions and Relevance: Taken together, these findings suggest that the increased OPN level in lungs of EAE mice led to inflammation; concurrent increases in proinflammatory factors (OPN and galectin-3) caused pulmonary impairment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.300-315
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• 2024

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the deadliest malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a primary protein secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs); however, its role and mechanisms of action of Gal-1 in GC remain unclear. In this study, we stimulated GC cells with exogenous human recombinant galectin-1 protein (rhGal-1) to investigate its effects on the proliferation, migration, and resistance to cisplatin. Materials and Methods: We used simulated rhGal-1 protein as a paracrine factor produced by CAFs to induce GC cells and investigated its promotional effects and mechanisms in GC progression and cisplatin resistance. Immunohistochemical (IHC) assay confirmed that Gal-1 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters and correlated with the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), c-JUN, and Wee1. Results: Our study reveals Gal-1 expression was significantly associated with poor outcomes. Gal-1 boosts the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells by activating the NRP-1/C-JUN/Wee1 pathway. Gal-1 notably increases GC cell resistance to cisplatin The NRP-1 inhibitor, EG00229, effectively counteracts these effects. Conclusions: These findings revealed a potential mechanism by which Gal-1 promotes GC growth and contributes to chemoresistance, offering new therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2018

Currently, there is no available tool that rapidly diagnoses pine wood nematode (PWN)-infected pine trees in the field. In this study, we synthesized and purified PWN Galectin, which might be an antigen specific to PWN, using the Baculovirus expression system. We used PWN Galectin as an antigen for generating 1,464 fusion hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Among them, we selected 62 fusion hybridoma cell lines showing high reactivity to PWN Galectin. We further selected 12 fusion hybridoma cell lines showing high reactivity to the standard PWN-infected pine tree phosphate buffered saline (PBS) extract. Additionally, two fusion hybridoma cell lines showing no or extremely low reactivity were used as controls. The selected fusion hybridoma cell lines were subjected to limiting dilutions for selecting and establishing Mab-secreting cell lines showing higher reactivity to the standard PWN-infected pine tree extract than to the standard normal pine tree PBS extract. Moreover, the selected fusion hybridoma cell lines were further selected based on their higher reactivity to PWN protein extracts than to three non-pathogenic nematode protein extracts. The Mab-secreting cell lines established in this study could be used to develop rapid diagnostic tools that can be used in the field or in laboratories for detecting PWN-infected pine trees or PWN.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2024

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer polysaccharides exhibit various biological functions, like antagonizing galectin-3-mediated cell adhesion and migration. Galectin-8 (Gal-8), with its linker-joined N- and C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), is also crucial to these biological processes, and thus plays a role in various pathological disorders. Yet the effect of ginseng-derived polysaccharides in modulating Gal-8 function has remained unclear. Methods: P. ginseng-derived pectin was chromatographically isolated and enzymatically digested to obtain a series of polysaccharides. Biolayer Interferometry (BLI) quantified their binding affinity to Gal-8, and their inhibitory effects on Gal-8 was assessed by hemagglutination, cell migration and T-cell apoptosis. Results: Our ginseng-derived pectin polysaccharides consist mostly of rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) and homogalacturonan (HG). BLI shows that Gal-8 binding rests primarily in RG-I and its β-1,4-galactan side chains, with sub-micromolar K_D values. Both N- and C-terminal Gal-8 CRDs bind RG-I, with binding correlated with Gal-8-mediated function. Conclusion: P. ginseng RG-I pectin β-1,4-galactan side chains are crucial to binding Gal-8 and antagonizing its function. This study enhances our understanding of galectin-sugar interactions, information that may be used in the development of pharmaceutical agents targeting Gal-8.