title: Reduced expression of galectin-1 and galectin-9 by leucocytes in asthma patients.
abstract: Accumulating evidence shows that galectins play roles in the initiation and resolution phases of inflammatory responses by promoting anti- or proinflammatory effects. This study investigated the presence of three members of the galectin family (galectin-1, -3 and -9) in induced sputum samples of asthma patients, as well as their possible implication in the immunopathogenesis of human asthma. Levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, and galectins were determined in leucocytes isolated from induced sputum samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. High levels of IL-5 and IL-13 mRNA were detected in sputum cells from asthma patients. In parallel, immunoregulatory proteins galectin-1 and galectin-9 showed a reduced expression on macrophages from sputum samples compared with cells from healthy donors. In-vitro immunoassays showed that galectin-1 and galectin-9, but not galectin-3, are able to induce the production of IL-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. These findings indicate that macrophages from sputum samples of asthma patients express low levels of galectin-1 and galectin-9, favouring the exacerbated immune response observed in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Neumology Department, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Cuellar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz-Adalia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamana
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cibrian
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Madrid
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ancochea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3