title: The effects of galectin-1 on the gene expression of the transcription factors TBX21, GATA-3, FOXP3 and RORC.
abstract: CD4(+) T cells orchestrate the immune response by differentiating into T helper (Th) or regulatory (Treg) cell subsets that secrete distinct sets of cytokines. They also play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, asthma, allergy and, likely, cancer. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of CD4(+) T cell homeostasis by galectin-1 remain poorly characterized. To investigate whether galectin-1 modulates the differentiation of CD4(+) T cells, the effects of galectin-1 on the mRNA expression levels of TBX21, GATA-3, FOXP3 and RORC in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined. The expression levels of GATA-3 and FOXP3 mRNA were up-regulated after treatment with 1.0 μg/ml galectin-1 and were unchanged (for GATA-3) or slightly elevated (for FOXP3) compared with untreated cells when 2.0 μg/ml galectin-1 was added. At the same time, at both concentrations of galectin-1, we observed reduced TBX21 and RORC mRNA expression levels. These findings support the concept that galectin-1 skews the differentiation of CD4(+) T cells towards Th2 and Treg cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Science and Educational Center of Molecular Medicine, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia, yakushinavd@mail.ru.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Yakushina
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Vasil'eva
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ryazantseva
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Novitsky
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tashireva
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D037483:Galectin 1; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; C539900:RORC protein, human; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor