title: Galectin-1 synthesis in type 1 diabetes by different immune cell types: reduced synthesis by monocytes and Th1 cells.
abstract: Galectins are a group of β-galactoside-binding mammalian lectins that play important roles in the regulation of the immune response by promoting T cell tolerance, blunting Th1 and Th17 responses and suppressing autoimmune inflammation. However, the synthesis of these molecules by different T helper (Th) subsets and in the context of human type 1 diabetes (T1D) has not yet been studied. Our results show that Th17 polarising conditions induce the synthesis of higher levels of galectin-1 compared to Th1-polarised lymphocytes. In the context of human diabetes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from T1D patients, either unstimulated or after stimulation, secreted significantly lower amounts of galectin-1 in vitro compared to healthy donors. The reduced galectin-1 synthesis observed in this autoimmune disease occurs in a dominant pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu and it is mainly due to the lower synthesis by monocytes. Surprisingly, CD4(+) T helper cells from these patients secreted similar levels of galectin-1 compared to healthy donors, probably mediated by Th17 cytokines. In conclusion, CD4(+) T helper lymphocytes from T1D patients produce normal levels of the immunoregulator galectin-1 but its reduced synthesis by monocytes helps to maintain a skewed pro-inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Iria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gómez-Touriño
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Espinel
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández-Fernández
authors.forename: Africa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Fernández
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pena-González
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-López
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varela-Calvino
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D037483:Galectin 1; D007378:Interleukins; C445499:LGALS1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098546:Interleukin-21