title: Galectin-1 and galectin-8 have redundant roles in promoting plasma cell formation.
abstract: Galectin (Gal) family members are a type of soluble lectin, and they play important roles in immunomodulation. Their redundant roles have been proposed. We previously found that Gal-1 promotes the formation of Ab-secreting plasma cells, but B cells from Gal-1-deficient and control animals produce comparable amounts of Abs. In the current study, we used synthetic sulfomodified N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) analogs and short hairpin RNAs for Gal-8 to demonstrate a redundancy in the effects of Gal-1 and Gal-8 on plasma cell formation. Gal-1 and Gal-8 were both expressed during plasma cell differentiation, and both Gals promoted the formation of plasma cells. Gal-1 and Gal-8 bound better to mature B cells than to plasma cells, and the expression of glycosyltransferase enzymes changed during differentiation, with a decrease in mannosyl (α-1,6-)-glycoprotein β-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 mRNAs in plasma cells. Synthetic sulfomodified Galβ1-3GlcNAc disaccharides (type 1 LacNAcs) selectively prevented Gal-8 binding, leading to a blockade of Ab production in Gal-1-deficient B cells. Furthermore, synthetic type 1 LacNAcs that were able to block the binding of both Gals greatly reduced the effect of exogenously added recombinant Gal-1 and Gal-8 on promoting Ab production. These results reveal a novel role for Gal-8 in collaboration with Gal-1 in plasma cell formation, and suggest the possibility of using distinct LacNAc ligands to modulate the function of Gals.
authors.affiliation: Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chin-Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Hsiao-Wu
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Tsui-Ling
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Zhijay
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Kuan-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000606:Amino Sugars; D037483:Galectin 1; D037161:Galectins; C526554:galectin-8, mouse; C000458:N-acetyllactosamine; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; C063313:alpha-1,6-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase; C037649:N-acetyllactosaminide beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase