Galectin-3 functions as an alarmin: pathogenic role for sepsis development in murine respiratory tularemia.

ABSTRACT: Sepsis is a complex immune disorder with a mortality rate of 20-50% and currently has no therapeutic interventions. It is thus critical to identify and characterize molecules/factors responsible for its development. We have recently shown that pulmonary infection with Francisella results in sepsis development. As extensive cell death is a prominent feature of sepsis, we hypothesized that host endogenous molecules called alarmins released from dead or dying host cells cause a hyperinflammatory response culminating in sepsis development. In the current study we investigated the role of galectin-3, a mammalian β-galactoside binding lectin, as an alarmin in sepsis development during F. novicida infection. We observed an upregulated expression and extracellular release of galectin-3 in the lung

SUBMITTER: Mishra BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3603908 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature