Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a pleiotropic lectin involved in the modulation of immune responses. Using a model of rat experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO), we investigated the role of Gal-1 in testicular inflammation. EAO is characterized by leukocytic infiltrates in the interstitium, damage of spermatogenesis and production of inflammatory mediators like TNFα and MCP1 causing infertility. In normal rat testis Gal-1 was mainly expressed in Sertoli cells and germ cells. In the inflamed testis, Gal-1 expression was significantly downregulated most likely due to germ cell loss. Analyses of lectin binding and expression of glucosaminyl- and sialyltransferases indicated that the glycan composition on the cell surface of Sertoli and peritubular cells becomes less favourable for Gal-1 binding under inflammatory conditions. In primary Sertoli cells Gal-1 expression was found to be upregulated after TNFα challenge. Pretreatment with Gal-1 synergistically and specifically enhanced TNFα-induced expression of MCP1, IL-1α, IL-6 and TNFα in Sertoli cells. Combined stimulation of Sertoli cells with Gal-1 and TNFα enhanced the phosphorylation of MAP kinases as compared to TNFα or Gal-1 alone. Taken together, our data show that Gal-1 modulates inflammatory responses in Sertoli cells by enhancing the pro-inflammatory activity of TNFα via stimulation of MAPK signalling.

Pt–Re bimetallic catalysts have many applications, ranging from catalytic reforming to the reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives. However, the exact role of Re in these systems has remained a matter of discussion, partly due to the plethora of suggested synthesis protocols and analysis conditions. This study presents an extensive comparison of such literature protocols and the resulting materials. In detail, characterization by N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, CO pulse chemisorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed CO, scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is combined with catalytic testing to yield synthesis–structure–activity correlations. Accordingly, the investigated catalysts share common features, such as Pt0 nanoparticles (1–4 nm) decorated with partially reduced Re species (ReO x–y ). The remaining rhenium oxide is spread over the TiO2 support and enhances Pt dispersion in sequential impregnation protocols. While differences in the number of active sites (Pt0/ReO x–y ) mostly explain catalytic results, small variations in the extent of Re reduction and site composition cause additional modulations. The optimal bimetallic catalyst outperforms Ru/C (previous benchmark) in the reduction of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)­succinimide, an important step in the production of a bio-based polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer.