title: Identification and consequences of galectin-3 expression in pituitary tumors.
abstract: Although the mechanisms regulating pituitary tumor development and progression are still unclear, new information on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of human pituitary tumors have accumulated. Recent evidence suggests that galectin-3 plays an important role in pituitary tumorigenesis and in tumor progression. Galectin-3 is expressed in a variety of tumors and the intensity of expression and localization depend on tumor progression, invasiveness and metastatic potential. Galectin-3 expression has been used as a potential diagnostic and/or prognostic marker in a variety of neoplasms. This review summarizes existing information regarding the structural and functional properties of galectin-3 protein as well as the LGALS3 gene in pituitary tumorigenesis. Given its role in pituitary tumor cell proliferation and in apoptosis, galectin-3 may be a target for the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stilling
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D037502:Galectin 3; C493728:RUNX1 protein, human; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone