title: Role of galectin-3 in the initial control of Leishmania infection.
abstract: Galectin-3 belongs to a family of galectins, evolutionarily conserved glycan binding proteins (lectins) that have recently attracted much attention as modulators in adaptive immune responses. Previously, galectins have been considered lectins that bind only to endogenous "self" glycans. Further, galectins are synthesized and stored in the cytosol, where there are virtually no glycan-containing proteins, raising doubts over the biological significance of their glycan binding capacity. As discussed in this review, with particular emphasis on the role of galectin-3 in the innate immune response against the protozoan parasite Leishmania, several recent studies have suggested that galectin-3 could recognize L. major-specific pathogen-associated molecular pattern and, in parallel, facilitate the infiltration of neutrophils to the infected sites that helps reduce the initial parasite burden once galectin-3 is released as a damage-associated molecular pattern. Thus, while further investigation is necessary, based on the current results, it could be proposed that galectin-3 can hinge two areas of the innate immune recognition system, DAMP and PAMP pathways in the early host responses against various pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Glycobiology and Bioimaging, Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Glycobiology and Bioimaging, Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.
authors.forename: Pampa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhaumik
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Glycobiology and Bioimaging, Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: St-Pierre
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Glycobiology and Bioimaging, Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3