title: Expression and function of galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding protein in activated T lymphocytes.
abstract: A soluble beta-galactoside-binding lectin, galectin-3 has been shown to be involved in cell adhesion and activation of immune cells. Although galectin-3 is known to be expressed in various types of cells, it has not been shown whether galectin-3 is expressed in T lymphocytes. We present evidence here that galectin-3 is expressed in activated murine T lymphocytes including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells but not in resting T cells. Galectin-3 expression was induced by anti-CD3 mAb or mitogen and enhanced by common gamma-chain signaling cytokines, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-7, in activated T lymphocytes, whereas the inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma did not. Galectin-3 expression and proliferation were down-regulated by withdrawal of IL-2 and gamma irradiation. Antisense but not sense phosphorothioated oligonucleotides for galectin-3 inhibited galectin-3 expression and blocked proliferation of T cells significantly. This study suggests that up-regulation of galectin-3 plays an important role in proliferation of activated T lymphocytes.
authors: Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors: H G
authors: HG
authors: Joo
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Goedegebuure
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sadanaga
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nagoshi
authors: W
authors: W
authors: von Bernstorff
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Eberlein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines; D037502:Galectin 3; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007476:Ionophores; D008934:Mitogens; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D013873:Thionucleotides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000001:Calcimycin; D002118:Calcium