title: Galectin-3 in autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Galectin-3 (gal-3) is a β-galactoside-binding lectin, which regulates cell-cell and extracellular interactions during self/non-self-antigen recognition and cellular activation, proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. It plays a significant role in cellular and tissue pathophysiology by organizing niches that drive inflammation and immune responses. Gal-3 has some therapeutic potential in several diseases, including chronic inflammatory disorders, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Gal-3 exerts a broad spectrum of functions which differs according to its intra- or extracellular localization. Recombinant gal-3 strategy has been used to identify potential mode of action of gal-3; however, exogenous gal-3 may not reproduce the functions of the endogenous gal-3. Notably, gal-3 induces monocyte-macrophage differentiation, interferes with dendritic cell fate decision, regulates apoptosis on T lymphocytes and inhibits B-lymphocyte differentiation into immunoglobulin secreting plasma cells. Considering the influence of these cell populations in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, gal-3 seems to play a role in development of autoimmunity. Gal-3 has been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in patients affected with some autoimmune disorders. However, the precise role of gal-3 in driving the inflammatory process in autoimmune or immune-mediated disorders remains elusive. Here, we reviewed the involvement of gal-3 in cellular and tissue events during autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Coimbra Group Fellowship for Latin American Professors, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP 21941-902, Brazil Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Felipe L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luisetto
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghirardello
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Punzi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy adoria@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Galectin-3; autoimmune diseases; autoimmunity