The levels of expression of galectin-3, but not of galectin-1 and galectin-8, correlate with apoptosis in human cholesteatomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether galectins 1, 3, and 8 are expressed in human cholesteatomas and whether any such expression does correlate with the level of apoptosis, which is, as we have previously shown, predictive of recurrence.7


METHODS
The analysis of 52 cholesteatomas resected by the same surgeon by means of canal wall up and canal wall down procedures.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical levels of expression of galectins 1, 3, and 8 were quantitatively determined (using computer-assisted microscopy) on conventional histological slides by means of specific anti-galectin-1, anti-galectin-3, and anti-galectin-8 antibodies. The level of apoptosis in each cholesteatoma under study had already been determined 7 by means of the in situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation (Tolt-mediated dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL] staining).


RESULTS
Galectin-1 was expressed markedly in both the epithelial and the connective tissue areas of all the cholesteatomas under study. The levels of expression of galectin-3 and galectin-8 were considerably lower than that of galectin-1. The level of expression of galectin-3 correlated both highly and positively with the level of apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
An upregulation of galectin-3 (known to have an antiapoptotic and antianoikis effect in certain model systems) expression, which is associated with pronounced apoptotic activity, could have a physiologically protective effect against the characteristically substantial apoptotic features occurring in recurrent cholesteatomas.
Sheikholeslam-Zadeh
R
R
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium.
Decaestecker
C
C
Delbrouck
C
C
Danguy
A
A
Salmon
I
I
Zick
Y
Y
Kaltner
H
H
Hassid
S
S
Gabius
H J
HJ
Kiss
R
R
Choufani
G
G
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000473:pathology*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000473:pathology; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C091991:LGALS8 protein, human; D037102:Lectins