title: How microgravity changes galectin-3 in thyroid follicles.
abstract: After long-term exposure to real microgravity thyroid gland in vivo undergoes specific changes, follicles are made up of larger thyrocytes that produce more cAMP and express more thyrotropin-receptor, caveolin-1, and sphingomyelinase and sphingomyelin-synthase; parafollicular spaces lose C cells with consequent reduction of calcitonin production. Here we studied four immunohistochemical tumor markers (HBME-1, MIB-1, CK19, and Galectin-3) in thyroid of mice housed in the Mouse Drawer System and maintained for 90 days in the International Space Station. Results showed that MIB-1 proliferative index and CK19 are negative whereas HBME-1 and Galectin-3 are overexpressed. The positivity of Galectin-3 deserves attention not only for its expression but also and especially for its localization. Our results highlighted that, in microgravity conditions, Galectin-3 leaves thyrocytes and diffuses in colloid. It is possible that the gravity force contributes to the maintenance of the distribution of the molecules in both basal membrane side and apical membrane side and that the microgravity facilitates slippage of Galectin-3 in colloid probably due to membrane remodelling-microgravity induced.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2361-4406
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy ; Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5039-2792
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Floridi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Samuela
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0588-1658
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Remo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loreti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ambesi-Impiombato
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013026:Space Flight; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3; C485095:Lgals3 protein, mouse