title: Galectin-8 binds specific beta1 integrins and induces polarized spreading highlighted by asymmetric lamellipodia in Jurkat T cells.
abstract: Integrin-mediated encounters of T cells with extracellular cues lead these cells to adhere to a variety of substrates and acquire a spread phenotype needed for their tissue incursions. We studied the effects of galectin-8 (Gal-8), a beta-galactoside binding lectin, on Jurkat T cells. Immobilized Gal-8 bound alpha1beta1, alpha3beta1 and alpha5beta1 but not alpha2beta1 and alpha4beta1 and adhered these cells with similar kinetics to immobilized fibronectin (FN). Function-blocking experiments with monoclonal anti-integrin antibodies suggested that alpha5beta1 is the main mediator of cell adhesion to this lectin. Gal-8, but not FN, induced extensive cell spreading frequently leading to a polarized phenotype characterized by an asymmetric lamellipodial protrusion. These morphological changes involved actin cytoskeletal rearrangements controlled by PI3K, Rac-1 and ERK1/2 activity. Gal-8-induced Rac-1 activation and binding to alpha1 and alpha5 integrins have not been described in any other cellular system. Strikingly, Gal-8 was also a strong stimulus on Jurkat cells in suspension, triggering ERK1/2 activation that in most adherent cells is instead dependent on cell attachment. In addition, we found that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a prototypic autoimmune disorder, produce Gal-8 autoantibodies that impede both its binding to integrins and cell adhesion. These are the first function-blocking autoantibodies reported for a member of the galectin family. These results indicate that Gal-8 constitutes a novel extracellular stimulus for T cells, able to bind specific beta1 integrins and to trigger signaling pathways conducive to cell spreading. Gal-8 could modulate a wide range of T cell-driven immune processes that eventually become altered in autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología, Facultad de Medicina, Chile.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cárcamo
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oyanadel
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bravo-Zehnder
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cáceres
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massardo
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobelli
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soza
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D037161:Galectins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013862:Thiogalactosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D000077191:Wortmannin; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005353:Fibronectins; D005419:Flavonoids; D037161:Galectins; D019012:Integrin beta1; C091991:LGALS8 protein, human; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; D013862:Thiogalactosides; D015638:Cytochalasin D; C031803:thiodigalactoside; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D000077191:Wortmannin