Galectins

Overview of Galectins

Galectins are a family of highly conserved proteins with a β-galactose binding structure that is found in a wide variety of organisms. More than 20 galectins have been identified in mammals and 12 galectins in humans (Menkhorst E, et al., 2021). Common galectins include galectin-1, galectin-3, galectin-8, and others. Galectins play important roles in several physiological processes, including cell adhesion, cell signaling, immune regulation, and inflammatory responses. They regulate intercellular adhesion and signaling by interacting with cell surface glycan molecules and are involved in processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and immune cell activation. Recent studies have revealed galectins' structural and functional relationships and their potential roles in disease development through protein purification, structural analysis, cellular experiments, and animal models. Galectins play important roles in tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis (as shown in Figure 1), may serve as tumor markers and therapeutic targets, and are closely related to the fields of neuroscience, immunology, infection, and inflammation. Future studies will continue to explore the function and regulatory mechanisms of galectins, as well as their interactions with other biomolecules. These studies will contribute to a better understanding of the role of this important protein family in biological processes, provide new ideas and strategies for the development of therapeutics and drugs targeting galectins, and advance our in-depth knowledge of their biological functions and potential applications.

Fig.1 Galectins are involved in multiple processes of cancer initiation and development. (Dings RPM, et al., 2018)

Research Areas of Galectins

Galectins have attracted a lot of attention in several research areas, including oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and infection and inflammation. Below is a detailed description of galectins research in these fields:

• Oncology research

In the field of oncology, galectins continue to be extensively studied due to their significant involvement in tumorigenesis, disease progression, and metastasis. By binding to specific glycosyl structures on the surface of tumor cells, galectins are able to regulate tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion. Specific galectins are differentially expressed in different types of tumors, and are therefore considered potential candidates as tumor markers and prognostic indicators.

• Neuroscience research

In the field of neuroscience, researchers have found that galectins play an important role in nerve cell development, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. They are involved in the processes of neuronal migration, adhesion, and differentiation, and play a role in the regulation of synapse formation and connectivity. In addition, galectins are involved in the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses and may be implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

• Immunological studies

Galectins have emerged as key players in the immune system, exerting crucial functions in immune regulation. They are involved in regulating several immune processes such as activation, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of immune cells. Different types of immune cells express different galectins, which play a regulatory role in cell-cell interactions. In addition, galectins interact with other molecules in the immune system, such as cell surface receptors and extracellular matrix molecules, to influence the activity and function of immune cells.

• Infection and inflammation research

Furthermore, galectins are highly influential in the intricate orchestration of infection and inflammation processes, making them pivotal regulators in these pathological conditions. They are involved in regulating the recognition and clearance of bacteria, viruses, and parasites by immune cells. In addition, galectins are able to regulate the intensity and duration of inflammatory responses, which is important for the regulation of inflammatory processes. Studies have found that altered galectin expression levels or functional abnormalities are closely related to the development and progression of a variety of infectious and inflammation-related diseases.

In summary, galectins have important research value in various research fields such as oncology, neuroscience, and immunology, as well as infection and inflammation. Through an in-depth study of the role of galectins in these fields, we can better understand their specific mechanisms in the development of diseases, and thus provide new ideas and strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

Related References

• Menkhorst E, Than NG, Jeschke U, et al. Medawar's PostEra: Galectins Emerged as Key Players During Fetal-Maternal Glycoimmune Adaptation. Front Immunol. 2021;12:784473. Published 2021 Dec 15. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.784473.
• Dings RPM, Miller MC, Griffin RJ, Mayo KH. Galectins as Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Intervention. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(3):905. Published 2018 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/ijms19030905