title: Galectins in atherosclerotic disease.
abstract: Although cells constantly adapt to external humoral cues, like cytokines and hormones, in practice, most cellular behavior is under locally guided control, via cell-cell interactions. The most prominent members of this group of molecules involved in this intercellular signaling are the galectins, a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins, which by binding specific receptors induce signaling. It has become clear that galectins are important in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, in particular atherosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Modulation of galectin signaling holds great promise for the treatment of cardiovascular disease as evident from preclinical studies.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Ansari
authors.forename: Clark J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zeebregts
authors.forename: Riemer H J A
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Slart
authors.forename: Maikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peppelenbosch
authors.forename: René A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tio
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D037161:Galectins