title: Galectin-8: a matricellular lectin with key roles in angiogenesis.
abstract: Galectin-8 (gal-8) is a "tandem-repeat"-type galectin, containing two carbohydrate recognition domains connected by a linker peptide. gal-8 is expressed both in the cytoplasm and nucleus in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) from normal and tumor-associated blood vessels, and in lymphatic endothelial cells. Herein, we describe a novel role for gal-8 in the regulation of vascular and lymphatic angiogenesis and provide evidence of its critical implications in tumor biology. Functional assays revealed central roles for gal-8 in the control of capillary-tube formation, EC migration and in vivo angiogenesis. So far, two endothelial ligands have been described for gal-8, namely podoplanin in lymphatic vessels and CD166 (ALCAM, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule) in vascular ECs. Other related gal-8 functions are also summarized here, including cell adhesion and migration, which collectively demonstrate the multi-functionality of this complex lectin. Thus, gal-8 is an important component of the angiogenesis network, and an essential molecule in the extracellular matrix by providing molecular anchoring to this surrounding matrix. The implications of gal-8 in tumor angiogenesis remain to be further explored, but it is exciting to speculate that modulating gal-8-glycan interactions could be used to block lymphatic-vascular connections vital for metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferragut
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bacigalupo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: Víctor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cárdenas Delgado
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: Lorena G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Nugnes
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Departamento de Química Biológica. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gentilini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Departamento de Química Biológica. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laderach
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.
authors.forename: Carlota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfenstein-Todel
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Departamento de Química Biológica. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Compagno
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional, IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Departamento de Química Biológica. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Laboratorio de Inmunopatología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME - CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Prof. Dr. Alejandro Paladini (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica mtelola@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Elola
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D000098853:Podoplanin
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D037161:Galectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C105613:ALCAM protein, human; D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; C091991:LGALS8 protein, human; C117468:PDPN protein, human; D000098853:Podoplanin
keywords: CD166; angiogenesis; endothelium; galectin-8