Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Jan;1183:158-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05131.x.
Galectins, beta-galactoside-binding animal lectins, are differentially expressed by various immune cells as well as a wide range of other cell types. Extracellularly, galectins are able to exhibit bivalent or multivalent interactions with cell-surface glycans on various immune cells and exert various effects. These include cytokine and mediator production, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and chemoattraction. In addition, they can form lattices with cell-surface glycoprotein receptors, resulting in modulation of receptor functions, including clustering and endocytosis. Intracellularly, galectins can participate in signaling pathways and modulate biologic responses. These include apoptosis, cell differentiation, and cell migration. Thus, a large body of literature indicates that galectins play important roles in the immune and inflammatory responses through regulating the homeostasis and functions of immune cells. The use of mice deficient in individual galectins has provided additional evidence for the contributions of these proteins to these responses. Current research indicates that galectins play important roles in the development of acute inflammation as well as chronic inflammation associated with allergies, autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, infectious processes, and cancer. Thus, recombinant proteins or specific galectin inhibitors may be used as therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.
半乳糖凝集素是一种能与β-半乳糖苷结合的动物凝集素，在多种免疫细胞和其他多种细胞类型中均有差异表达。细胞外，半乳糖凝集素能够与各种免疫细胞表面的糖链发生二价或多价相互作用，并发挥多种效应。这些效应包括细胞因子和介质的产生、细胞黏附、细胞凋亡和趋化作用。此外，它们还可以与细胞表面糖蛋白受体形成晶格，从而调节受体功能，包括聚集和内吞作用。细胞内，半乳糖凝集素可以参与信号通路并调节生物反应。这些反应包括细胞凋亡、细胞分化和细胞迁移。因此，大量文献表明，半乳糖凝集素通过调节免疫细胞的稳态和功能，在免疫和炎症反应中发挥重要作用。使用缺乏特定半乳糖凝集素的小鼠为这些蛋白对这些反应的贡献提供了更多证据。目前的研究表明，半乳糖凝集素在急性炎症和与过敏、自身免疫性疾病、动脉粥样硬化、感染过程和癌症相关的慢性炎症的发展中发挥重要作用。因此，重组蛋白或特定的半乳糖凝集素抑制剂可用作炎症性疾病的治疗药物。
