Lack of galectin-1 results in defects in myoblast fusion and muscle regeneration.
Galectin-1 has been implicated in the development of skeletal muscle, being maximally expressed at the time of myofiber formation. Furthermore, in the presence of exogenous galectin-1, mononuclear myoblasts show increased fusion in vitro. In the current study, we have used the galectin-1 null mouse to elucidate the role of galectin-1 in skeletal muscle development and regeneration. Myoblasts derived from the galectin-1 mutant showed a reduced ability to fuse in vitro. In galectin-1 null mutants, there was evidence of a delay in muscle fiber development at the neonatal stage and muscle fiber diameter was reduced when compared with wild-type at the adult stage. Muscle regeneration was also compromised in the galectin-1 mutant with the process being delayed and a reduced fiber size being maintained. These results, therefore, show a definitive role for galectin-1 in fusion of myoblasts both in vitro, in vivo, and in regeneration after recovery from induced injury.
Georgiadis
Vasilios
V
Division of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex Campus, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
Stewart
Helen J S
HJ
Pollard
Hilary J
HJ
Tavsanoglu
Yasemin
Y
Prasad
Rathi
R
Horwood
Julia
J
Deltour
Louise
L
Goldring
Kirstin
K
Poirier
Francoise
F
Lawrence-Watt
Diana J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*
D037483:Galectin 1