title: Regulated expression of galectin-1 during T-cell activation involves Lck and Fyn kinases and signaling through MEK1/ERK, p38 MAP kinase and p70S6 kinase.
abstract: Recent evidence has implicated galectins and their carbohydrate ligands as novel regulators of T-cell homeostasis. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of this family, inhibits clonal expansion, induces apoptosis of antigen-primed T lymphocytes and suppresses the development of T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases in vivo. Because the beta-galactoside-binding protein is expressed in activated but not resting T cells, it has been hypothesized that Gal-1-induced apoptosis may constitute an autocrine suicide mechanism to eliminate activated T cells contributing to the termination of an effector immune response. We undertook this study to investigate the signals and intracellular pathways leading to Gal-1 expression during T-cell activation. When T cells were stimulated either with anti-CD3 or anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody plus PMA in the presence of accessory cells, a sustained up-regulation of Gal-1 was observed, reaching a plateau between days 3 and 5 following CD3 engagement or costimulation through CD28. Investigation of the signal transduction events involved in this process revealed a role for Lck and Fyn kinases, since the Src kinase inhibitor PP1 inhibited the up-regulated expression of Gal-1 following T-cell activation. Downstream signaling routes involve mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK)1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK, as Gal-1 expression was prevented by U0126 and SB202190. In addition, expression of Gal-1 involves interleukin (IL)-2-dependent signaling routes triggered by p70S6 kinase, as it could be inhibited by rapamycin. This is the first demonstration of the intracellular pathways that control activation-induced expression of Gal-1, which may reveal potential targets for immune intervention to modulate expression of this beta-galactoside-binding protein in pathological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunogenetics, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mercedes B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fuertes
authors.forename: Luciana L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Molinero
authors.forename: Marta A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ilarregui
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fainboim
authors.forename: Norberto W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Zwirner
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / Q000378:metabolism*; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D037483:Galectin 1; D007093:Imidazoles; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009570:Nitriles; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; C113580:U 0126; C494957:FYN protein, human; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D051076:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; C090942:4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole; D020123:Sirolimus