Galectin

About: Galectin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2076 publications have been published within this topic receiving 103409 citations. The topic is also known as: IPR001079 & Galectin.

Human galectin-9 potently enhances SARS-CoV-2 replication and inflammation in airway epithelial cells.

Abstract: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused a global economic and health crisis. Recently, plasma levels of galectin-9 (Gal-9), a β-galactoside-binding lectin involved in immune regulation and viral immunopathogenesis, were reported to be elevated in the setting of severe COVID-19 disease. However, the impact of Gal-9 on SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunopathology remained to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that Gal-9 treatment potently enhances SARS-CoV-2 replication in human airway epithelial cells (AECs), including immortalized AECs and primary AECs cultured at the air-liquid interface. Gal-9-glycan interactions promote SARS-CoV-2 attachment and entry into AECs in an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent manner, enhancing the binding of the viral spike protein to ACE2. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Gal-9 and SARS-CoV-2 infection synergistically induced the expression of key pro-inflammatory programs in AECs including the IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, EIF2, and TNFα signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that manipulation of Gal-9 should be explored as a therapeutic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Inhibitors of prototypic galectin dimerization and uses thereof

Abstract: Agents that inhibit the dimerization of a prototypic galectin such as galectin-7 are described. These agents, for example antibodies and peptides, bind to a domain corresponding to residues 13-25, 86-108 and/or 129-135 of human galectin-7. The use of such agents to inhibit a biological, physiological and/or pathological process that involves prototypic galectin dimerization, for example for the inhibition of galectin-7-mediated apoptosis and the treatment of galectin-7-expressing cancers, is also described.

Cell-Intrinsic and Extrinsic Effects of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemias arising from the malignant transformation of B-cell precursors (BCP-ALLs) are protected against chemotherapy by both intrinsic factors as well as by interactions with bone marrow stromal cells. Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 have overlapping expression patterns and potentially common functions in these cells. We used Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 double null mutant murine BCP-ALL cells to examine the effect of loss endogenous Galectins. We also tested the effect of Galectin inhibition by use of plant-derived natural compounds GM-CT-01 and GR-MD-02 in human BCP-ALL cells in co-culture with stroma. Transformed wild type and Galectin-1 x Galectin-3 double knockout BCP-ALL cells were similar in immunophenotype and active intracellular signaling. However, compared to wild type cells, they showed impaired migration, significantly reduced proliferation and increased sensitivity to drug treatment. GM-CT-01 and GR-MD-02 attenuated intracellular signal transduction and sensitized the BCP-ALL cells to chemotherapy including vincristine and the targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib. Our data show endogenous and extracellular Galectins contribute positively to the growth and survival of BCP-ALL cells. Strategies that would efficiently ablate both Galectins at both locations would decrease microenvironmental protection and reduce BCP-ALL persistence in the protective bone marrow niche after chemotherapy.