title: Fingerprinting of galectins in normal, P. aeruginosa-infected, and chemically burned mouse corneas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to assess whether the expression pattern of galectins is altered in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected and chemically burned mouse corneas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galectin (Gal) fingerprinting of normal, P. aeruginosa-infected, and silver nitrate-cauterized corneas was performed by Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and qRT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal corneas, Gal-1 was distributed mainly in the stroma, Gal-3 was localized mainly in epithelium, and Gal-7, -8, and -9 were detected in both corneal epithelium and stroma. Expression levels of the five galectins were drastically altered under pathological conditions. In both infected and cauterized corneas, overall Gal-3 expression was downregulated, whereas overall Gal-8 and -9 were upregulated. Changes in the expression level of Gal-7, -8, and -9 were distinct in the epithelium of infected and cauterized corneas. Expression of these three galectins was upregulated in corneal epithelium of infected corneas but not in cauterized corneas. Consistent with the changes in protein expression: (1) Gal-7, -8, and -9 mRNA expression was upregulated in cauterized corneas, and (2) Gal-3 mRNA was downregulated and Gal-9 mRNA expression was upregulated in infected corneas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate differential regulation of various members of the galectin family in the course of corneal infection and neovascularization. The emerging functionality of the sugar code of cell surface receptors via endogenous galectins reflect to the pertinent roles of the five tested galectins in the diseases of cornea.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Wei-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center/Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Zhiyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Professional Degree Programs, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center/Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.affiliation: Program in Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States New England Eye Center/Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Noorjahan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panjwani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D037161:Galectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; angiogenesis; cornea; galectin