Mestas-Ramos José Antonio, Franco-Arellanes María Cristina, Ambrosio-Castillo Luis Enrique, González-González Ulises, Hernández-Aguilar María Elena, Ramírez-Thomé Saira Karina, Hernández-Juárez Jesús, Ávila-Curiel Beatriz Xóchitl, Zenteno Edgar, Solórzano-Mata Carlos Josué
Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.
J Mol Histol. 2025 Sep 5;56(5):294. doi: 10.1007/s10735-025-10583-4.
Galectin-1 is a protein from the lectin family that is capable of recognizing β-galactosides, and it is involved in modulating the inflammatory response and tissue homeostasis. However, the presence and distribution of galectin-1 in pulp tissue, as well as its role in pulp inflammation, are poorly understood. Although galectin-1 has been reported to be present in healthy and necrotic pulp tissue at the proteomic level, the modifications and implications of these changes in galectin in tissues with irreversible pulpitis and infiltrating macrophages that could help clarify the inflammatory phenomenon have not yet been described.
To determine the presence and distribution of galectin-1 in the dental pulp and in macrophages in tissues with irreversible pulpitis and healthy pulp.
Immunofluorescence assays were performed on tissues from patients with irreversible pulpitis and their healthy counterparts to explore the presence of galectin-1 in different pulp regions. In addition, galectin-1 was detected in tissue macrophages (CD68 +). Images were analyzed via Fiji/ImageJ software.
Our data revealed that galectin-1 is expressed in both healthy pulp tissue and tissue with irreversible pulpitis, with a greater intensity of galectin-1 in tissues with irreversible pulpitis. Odontoblasts and macrophages (CD68 +) colocalized with galectin-1. Our findings indicate a higher number of CD68 + macrophages in the peripheral region of healthy pulp tissue, and that Gal-1 is expressed in these cells under both inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.
Galectin-1 is present in tissues from patients with irreversible pulpitis and their healthy counterparts. Gal-1 is a molecule anti-inflammatory, suppressive, and pro-resolving functions, Gal-1 could potentially mitigate the pulpal inflammatory response and influence macrophage M2 polarization with the aim of preserving pulp vitality. Elucidating the precise function of galectin-1 in dental pulp will be a crucial focus of future research.
半乳糖凝集素-1是一种来自凝集素家族的蛋白质，能够识别β-半乳糖苷，并且参与调节炎症反应和组织稳态。然而，半乳糖凝集素-1在牙髓组织中的存在和分布，以及其在牙髓炎症中的作用，目前了解甚少。虽然在蛋白质组学水平上已报道半乳糖凝集素-1存在于健康和坏死的牙髓组织中，但在不可逆性牙髓炎组织和浸润巨噬细胞中半乳糖凝集素的这些变化的修饰及其意义，有助于阐明炎症现象，尚未见描述。
确定半乳糖凝集素-1在不可逆性牙髓炎和健康牙髓组织中的牙髓及巨噬细胞中的存在和分布。
对不可逆性牙髓炎患者及其健康对照的组织进行免疫荧光分析，以探索不同牙髓区域中半乳糖凝集素-1的存在情况。此外，在组织巨噬细胞（CD68 +）中检测半乳糖凝集素-1。通过Fiji/ImageJ软件分析图像。
我们的数据显示，半乳糖凝集素-1在健康牙髓组织和不可逆性牙髓炎组织中均有表达，在不可逆性牙髓炎组织中半乳糖凝集素-1的表达强度更高。成牙本质细胞和巨噬细胞（CD68 +）与半乳糖凝集素-1共定位。我们的研究结果表明，健康牙髓组织周边区域中CD68 +巨噬细胞数量较多，并且在炎症和非炎症条件下这些细胞中均表达半乳糖凝集素-1。
半乳糖凝集素-1存在于不可逆性牙髓炎患者及其健康对照的组织中。半乳糖凝集素-1具有抗炎、抑制和促进消退的功能，可能减轻牙髓炎症反应并影响巨噬细胞M2极化，以保护牙髓活力。阐明半乳糖凝集素-1在牙髓中的精确功能将是未来研究的关键重点。
