Galectin-3 in apoptosis, a novel therapeutic target.
During the past decade, extensive progress has been made toward understanding the molecular basis for the regulation of apoptosis. In mammalian cells undergoing apoptosis, two distinct mechanisms or pathways are operated and are triggered by cell death stimuli from intra- or extra-cellular environments, namely the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, resulting in mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Several lines of evidence from our laboratories and others have indicated that galectin-3 plays an important role in these pathways by binding to various ligands. Here the authors provide a brief discussion on the role of endogenous or extra-cellular galectin-3 in the regulation of apoptosis and how it could be used as a therapeutic target using natural plant products as its functional inhibitors.
Nangia-Makker
Pratima
P
Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. makkerp@karmanos.org
Nakahara
Susumu
S
Hogan
Victor
V
Raz
Avraham
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037502:Galectin 3