Galectin-3 leads to attenuation of apoptosis through Bax heterodimerization in human thyroid carcinoma cells.
Cancer cells survive escaping normal apoptosis and the blocks in apoptosis that keep cancer cells alive are promising candidates for targeted therapy. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is, a member of the lectin family, which is involved in cell growth, adhesion, proliferation and apoptosis. It remains elusive to understand the role of Gal-3 on apoptosis in thyroid carcinoma cells. Here, we report that Gal-3 heterodimerizes Bax, mediated by the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of Gal-3, leading to anti-apoptotic characteristic. Gal-3/Bax interaction was suppressed by an antagonist of Gal-3, in which in turn cells became sensitive to apoptosis. The data presented here highlight that Gal-3 is involved in the anti-apoptosis of thyroid carcinoma cells. Thus, it suggests that targeting Gal-3 may lead to an improved therapeutic modality for thyroid cancer.
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Yosuke
Y
Harazono
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Dhong Hyo
DH
Kho
Everon Biosciences, 640 Ellicott Street, Ste. 444 Buffalo, NY.
Vitaly
V
Balan
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Kosei
K
Nakajima
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Tianpeng
T
Zhang
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Victor
V
Hogan
Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI.
Avraham
A
Raz
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
C494826:BAX protein, human; D037502:Galectin 3; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein