Galectin-3 expression is correlated with abnormal prion protein accumulation in murine scrapie.
To investigate the involvement of galectin-3 in the process of neurodegeneration in prion diseases, the expression and cellular localization of galectin-3 in the brain were studied in scrapie, a mouse model of prion disease. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analyses showed that the expression of galectin-3 protein and mRNA was induced in scrapie-affected brains, particularly at the time when the abnormal prion protein PrP(Sc) began to accumulate in the brains. Immunohistochemically, immunostaining for galectin-3 was found mainly in B4-isolectin-positive cells (presumably activated microglia/macrophages), but not in astrocytes. Galectin-3 immunoreactivity was localized mainly in areas of PrP(Sc) accumulation and neuronal death in scrapie-infected brains. These findings suggest that the expression of galectin-3 by activated microglia/macrophages in prion disease correlates with abnormal prion protein accumulation.
Jin
Jae-Kwang
JK
Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Kyonggi-do 431-060, South Korea.
Na
Yeo-Jung
YJ
Song
Joon-Ho
JH
Joo
Hong-Gu
HG
Kim
Seungjoon
S
Kim
Jae-Il
JI
Choi
Eun-Kyoung
EK
Carp
Richard I
RI
Kim
Yong-Sun
YS
Shin
Taekyun
T
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger