Hughes R C
National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Biochimie. 2001 Jul;83(7):667-76. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9084(01)01289-5.
The galectins are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that are distributed widely in metazoan organisms. Each galectin exhibits a specific pattern of expression in various cells and tissues, and expression is often closely regulated during development. Although these proteins are found mainly in the cell cytoplasm, some are secreted from cells and interact with appropriately glycosylated proteins at the cell surface or within the extracellular matrix. These receptors include cell-adhesion molecules such as integrins, and matrix glycoproteins such as laminin and fibronectin isoforms. Recent studies have increased understanding of the roles of the galectins in regulating cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. These interactions are critically involved in modulation of normal cellular motility and polarity and during tissue formation, and loss of adhesive function is implicated in several disease states including tumour progression, inflammation and cystic development in branching epithelia such as kidney tubules. This review discusses recent progress in defining the specificities and mechanisms of action of secreted galectins as multifunctional cell regulators.
半乳糖凝集素是一类碳水化合物结合蛋白家族，广泛分布于后生动物体内。每种半乳糖凝集素在各种细胞和组织中都表现出特定的表达模式，并且在发育过程中其表达通常受到严格调控。虽然这些蛋白质主要存在于细胞质中，但有些会从细胞中分泌出来，并与细胞表面或细胞外基质中适当糖基化的蛋白质相互作用。这些受体包括细胞粘附分子如整合素，以及基质糖蛋白如层粘连蛋白和纤连蛋白异构体。最近的研究加深了人们对半乳糖凝集素在调节细胞 - 细胞和细胞 - 基质粘附中作用的理解。这些相互作用在调节正常细胞运动性和极性以及组织形成过程中起着关键作用，而粘附功能的丧失与多种疾病状态有关，包括肿瘤进展、炎症以及肾小管等分支上皮中的囊性发育。本综述讨论了在确定分泌型半乳糖凝集素作为多功能细胞调节剂的特异性和作用机制方面的最新进展。
