Galectin-1 modulates human melanoma cell adhesion to laminin.
Galectins constitute a gene family of beta-galactoside-specific lectins that show high homology in their carbohydrate-binding site. They have been postulated to be involved in many biological events, but their specific functions are not yet well defined. Galectin-1 is a laminin binding protein that recognizes poly-N-acetyllactosamine chains on this major basement membrane glycoprotein. In this study, we analyzed the possibility that galectin-1 could modulate interactions between human melanoma cells and laminin. We demonstrated that A375 and A2058 cell lines express galectin-1 both intracellularly and on the cell surface. In an in vitro assay, recombinant galectin-1 increased melanoma cell attachment to laminin in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was abolished by lactose. Anti-galectin-1 inhibited adhesion of melanoma cells to laminin in a dose-dependent fashion. However, neither galectin-1 nor anti-galectin-1 antibody affected melanoma cell spreading on laminin in vitro. These data indicate that galectin-1 might participate in melanoma cell adhesion to laminin and therefore could be a modulator of invasion and metastasis.
van den Brûle
F A
FA
Metastasis Research Laboratory, University of Liège, Belgium.
Buicu
C
C
Baldet
M
M
Sobel
M E
ME
Cooper
D N
DN
Marschal
P
P
Castronovo
V
V
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007797:Laminin; D037102:Lectins