title: Adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins in the human eye: localization profiles and tissue reactivities as a standard to detect disease-associated alterations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the localization profiles of seven adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins in the normal human eye using immunodetection of endogenous galectins and binding of labeled galectins to sections, useful as a basis to detect disease-associated alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-cross-reactive anti-galectin antibodies and biotinylated galectins were tested on acetone-fixed cryosections of normal human donor eyes. Controls included omission of first-step reagent, testing of an antibody against a galectin specific for rat (galectin-5), and blocking of galectin binding with lactose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Galectin presence was not restricted to one or few members of this family. Signal occurrence can even include all tested or most proteins (conjunctival or corneal epithelium), whereas choroid positivity is fully accounted for by galectin-9. Regional specificity and characteristic profiles for each protein, immuno- and galectin histochemically, were determined. Differences in tissue reactivity among the galectins were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  That the galectins have characteristic localization/reactivity profiles supports the concept of a network with potential for non-overlapping functions. The reported data thus prompt to proceed to the respective analysis of specimens from ocular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsaugenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janko
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaltner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopitz
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gabius
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D037161:Galectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D037161:Galectins