Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2010 Sep 15;326(1-2):8-14. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.04.026. Epub 2010 May 6.
Although the mechanisms regulating pituitary tumor development and progression are still unclear, new information on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of human pituitary tumors have accumulated. Recent evidence suggests that galectin-3 plays an important role in pituitary tumorigenesis and in tumor progression. Galectin-3 is expressed in a variety of tumors and the intensity of expression and localization depend on tumor progression, invasiveness and metastatic potential. Galectin-3 expression has been used as a potential diagnostic and/or prognostic marker in a variety of neoplasms. This review summarizes existing information regarding the structural and functional properties of galectin-3 protein as well as the LGALS3 gene in pituitary tumorigenesis. Given its role in pituitary tumor cell proliferation and in apoptosis, galectin-3 may be a target for the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors.
虽然调控垂体肿瘤发生和发展的机制仍不清楚，但在人类垂体肿瘤发病机制中涉及的分子机制方面已积累了新的信息。最近的证据表明，半乳糖凝集素-3在垂体肿瘤发生和肿瘤进展中发挥重要作用。半乳糖凝集素-3在多种肿瘤中表达，其表达强度和定位取决于肿瘤的进展、侵袭性和转移潜能。半乳糖凝集素-3的表达已被用作多种肿瘤的潜在诊断和/或预后标志物。本综述总结了关于半乳糖凝集素-3蛋白以及在垂体肿瘤发生中的 LGALS3 基因的结构和功能特性的现有信息。鉴于其在垂体肿瘤细胞增殖和细胞凋亡中的作用，半乳糖凝集素-3可能成为治疗侵袭性垂体肿瘤的靶点。
