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Galectin-3: One Molecule for an Alphabet of Diseases, from A to Z.

ABSTRACT: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) regulates basic cellular functions such as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, growth, proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation. It is not surprising, therefore, that this protein is involved in the pathogenesis of many relevant human diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, chronic inflammation and scarring affecting many different tissues. The papers published in the literature have progressively increased in number during the last decades, testifying the great interest given to this protein by numerous researchers involved in many different clinical contexts. Considering the crucial role exerted by Gal-3 in many different clinical conditions, Gal-3 is emerging as a new diagnostic, prognostic biomarker and as a new promising therapeutic target. The current review aims to extensively examine the studies published so far on the role of Gal-3 in all the clinical conditions and diseases, listed in alphabetical order, where it was analyzed.

SUBMITTER: Sciacchitano S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5855601 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Galectin-3: One Molecule for an Alphabet of Diseases, from A to Z.

Sciacchitano Salvatore S Lavra Luca L Morgante Alessandra A Ulivieri Alessandra A Magi Fiorenza F De Francesco Gian Paolo GP Bellotti Carlo C Salehi Leila B LB Ricci Alberto A

International journal of molecular sciences 20180126 2

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) regulates basic cellular functions such as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, growth, proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation. It is not surprising, therefore, that this protein is involved in the pathogenesis of many relevant human diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, chronic inflammation and scarring affecting many different tissues. The papers published in the literature have progressively increased in number during the last decades, testifying the great inte ...[more]

PMID: 29373564

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Project description:The prevalence of thyroid nodules increases with age, average 4-7% for the U.S.A. adult population, but it is much higher (19-67%) when sub-clinical nodules are considered. About 90% of these lesions are benign and a reliable approach to their preoperative characterization is necessary. Unfortunately conventional thyroid scintigraphy does not allow the distinction among benign and malignant thyroid proliferations but it provides only functional information (cold or hot nodules). The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule galectin-3 is restricted to cancer cells and this feature has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications. We show here the possibility to obtain thyroid cancer imaging in vivo by targeting galectin-3.The galectin-3 based thyroid immuno-scintigraphy uses as radiotracer a specific (99m)Tc-radiolabeled mAb. A position-sensitive high-resolution mini-gamma camera was used as imaging capture device. Human galectin-3 positive thyroid cancer xenografts (ARO) and galectin-3 knockout tumors were used as targets in different experiments in vivo. 38 mice with tumor mass of about 1 gm were injected in the tail vein with 100 microCi of (99m)Tc-labeled mAb to galectin-3 (30 microg protein/in 100 microl saline solution). Tumor images were acquired at 1 hr, 3 hrs, 6 hrs, 9 hrs and 24 hrs post injection by using the mini-gamma camera.Results from different consecutive experiments show an optimal visualization of thyroid cancer xenografts between 6 and 9 hours from injection of the radiotracer. Galectin-3 negative tumors were not detected at all. At 6 hrs post-injection galectin-3 expressing tumors were correctly visualized, while the whole-body activity had essentially cleared.These results demonstrate the possibility to distinguish preoperatively benign from malignant thyroid nodules by using a specific galectin-3 radio-immunotargeting. In vivo imaging of thyroid cancer may allow a better selection of patients referred to surgery. The possibility to apply this method for imaging and treatment of other galectin-3 expressing tumors is also discussed.

Dataset Information

Galectin-3: One Molecule for an Alphabet of Diseases, from A to Z.

Publications

Galectin-3: One Molecule for an Alphabet of Diseases, from A to Z.

Similar Datasets

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