title: Ecalectin/galectin-9, a novel eosinophil chemoattractant: its function and production.
abstract: We have recently succeeded in purifying and cloning a novel eosinophil chemoattractant, ecalectin/galectin-9, which belong to a rapidly growing galectin family. The eosinophil chemoattractant activity of ecalectin is potent and selective for eosinophils. The cellular source of ecalectin has been thought to be antigen-stimulated T cells. Herein, we will review the significance of its divalent galactoside-binding activity in ecalectin-induced eosinophil chemoattraction and the regulation of ecalectin expression in immune cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Immunopathology, Kagawa Medical School, Kagawa, Japan. mitsuomi@kms.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirashima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037161:Galectins; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D037102:Lectins