Molecular mechanisms implicated in galectin-1-induced apoptosis: activation of the AP-1 transcription factor and downregulation of Bcl-2.
Galectins are emerging as a new class of bioactive molecules with specific immunomodulatory properties. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of this family, has been shown to induce apoptosis of mature T cells and immature thymocytes. To gain insight into the intracellular signals transduced by Gal-1 upon binding to mature T cells, we investigated whether this protein triggered activation of the dimeric AP-1 transcription factor. A marked increase in the binding of nuclear extracts to synthetic oligonucleotides containing the AP-1 consensus sequence, could be detected by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, when T cells were cultured for 30 min in the presence of Gal-1. This DNA-binding activity was preceded by a rapid increase in the levels of c-Jun mRNA, as determined by Northern blot analysis. Requirement of AP-1 for Gal-1-induced apoptosis was confirmed by the dose-dependent reduction on the level of DNA fragmentation observed when cells were pre-treated with curcumin (an inhibitor of AP-1 activation) before exposure to Gal-1. Finally, evidence is also provided by Western blot analysis, showing that Gal-1 inhibits Concanavalin A (Con A) induction of Bcl-2 protein. Results presented in this study provide the first experimental evidence regarding AP-1 and Bcl-2 as targets of the signal transduction pathway triggered by Gal-1 and set the basis for a more in depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of T-cell death regulation.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. gabyrabi@ciudad.com.ar
G A
GA
Rabinovich
C R
CR
Alonso
C E
CE
Sotomayor
S
S
Durand
J L
JL
Bocco
C M
CM
Riera
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1