title: Regulated expression of galectin-3, a multifunctional glycan-binding protein, in haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic tissues.
abstract: Galectin-3 belongs to a family of highly conserved animal lectins characterized by their ability to recognize multiple N-acetyllactosamine sequences, which can be displayed on both N- and O-glycans on cell surface glycoconjugates. Although first identified in macrophages, galectin-3 (also called "Mac-2, εBP, CBP35 or L-29") has been found to be widely distributed in several tissues and developmental stages where, depending on its extracellular or intracellular localization, it can display a broad diversity of biological functions including immunomodulation, host-pathogen interactions, embryogenesis, angiogenesis, cell migration, wound healing and apoptosis. In spite of the existence of several reviews describing the multifunctional properties of galectin-3, an integrated view of the regulated expression of this glycan-binding protein in different normal tissues is lacking. Here we attempt to summarize and integrate available information on galectin-3 distribution in normal haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic tissues, mainly in adulthood, with only a brief reference to its expression during embryonic stages. In addition, given the multiplicity of biological roles attributed to this protein, a brief description of galectin-3 functions is also included. Understanding how galectin-3 is regulated in normal tissues will contribute to a rational design of approaches aimed at modulating galectin-3 expression and subcellular localization for experimental and therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sundblad
authors.forename: Diego O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Croci
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3