Role of Galectin-3 in Human Pulmonary Fibrosis
Open Access
- 1 January 2007
- journal article
- Published by Japanese Society of Allergology in Allergology International
- Vol. 56 (1), 57-65
- https://doi.org/10.2332/allergolint.o-06-449
Abstract
Background: Galectin-β is a p-galactoside-binding protein which is implicated in diverse physiological and pathological processes including human liver cirrhosis and a mouse lung fibrosis model. The aim of this study is to determine whether galectin-3 is involved in human lung fibrosis.Methods: We measured galectin-3 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and examined its expression in alveolar macrophages from patients with interstitial lung disorders using ELISA and immunohisto-chemical staining, respectively. Using monocyte/macrophage cell lines in vitro, we examined the effect of cytokines on galectin-3 expression, and the opposite similarly by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Finally, we performed Micro Boyden chamber assay and Sircoll assay to determine whether galectin-3 induces migration and collagen synthesis, respectively, in fibroblasts.Results: Galectin-3 was specifically increased in BALF from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen vascular disease (CVD-IP). Galectin-3 levels in BALF seemed to be lower in IPF and CVD-IP patients receiving corticosteroid therapy. Alveolar macrophages from IPF patients expressed more galectin-3 compared with those from control. Galectin-3 expression was induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon (IFN)-γ in a monocytic cell line U937. Galectin-3 also induced mRNA expression and protein production of TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-8 in a macrophage cell line THP-1. This lectin stimulated NIH-3T3 fibroblast to induce migration and collagen synthesis in vitro.Conclusions: These results suggest that galectin-3 is involved in the pathogenesis of human IPF and CVD-IP by activating macrophages and fibroblastsKeywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Galectin-3 Induces Endothelial Cell Morphogenesis and AngiogenesisThe American Journal of Pathology, 2000
- Galectin‐3 stimulates uptake of extracellular Ca2+ in human Jurkat T‐cellsFEBS Letters, 1996
- Modulation of Functional Properties of Galectin-3 by Monoclonal Antibodies Binding to the Non-Lectin DomainsBiochemistry, 1996
- Activation of Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells by ϵBP, an IgE-Binding Endogenous LectinCellular Immunology, 1994
- .epsilon.BP, a .beta.-galactoside-binding animal lectin, recognizes IgE receptor (Fc.epsilon.RI) and activates mast cellsBiochemistry, 1993
- Secretion of the Baby Hamster Kidney 30-kDa Galactose-Binding Lectin from Polarized and Nonpolarized Cells: A Pathway Independent of the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Golgi ComplexExperimental Cell Research, 1993
- Platelet-derived growth factor in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.JCI Insight, 1990
- Tumor necrosis factor/cachectin plays a key role in bleomycin-induced pneumopathy and fibrosis.The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1989
- Exaggerated Spontaneous Release of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor by Alveolar Macrophages from Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1987
- Precapillary Systemic-pulmonary AnastomosesThorax, 1963