The effects of galectin-1 on the gene expression of the transcription factors TBX21, GATA-3, FOXP3 and RORC

Abstract

CD4(+) T cells orchestrate the immune response by differentiating into T helper (Th) or regulatory (Treg) cell subsets that secrete distinct sets of cytokines. They also play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, asthma, allergy and, likely, cancer. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of CD4(+) T cell homeostasis by galectin-1 remain poorly characterized. To investigate whether galectin-1 modulates the differentiation of CD4(+) T cells, the effects of galectin-1 on the mRNA expression levels of TBX21, GATA-3, FOXP3 and RORC in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined. The expression levels of GATA-3 and FOXP3 mRNA were up-regulated after treatment with 1.0 μg/ml galectin-1 and were unchanged (for GATA-3) or slightly elevated (for FOXP3) compared with untreated cells when 2.0 μg/ml galectin-1 was added. At the same time, at both concentrations of galectin-1, we observed reduced TBX21 and RORC mRNA expression levels. These findings support the concept that galectin-1 skews the differentiation of CD4(+) T cells towards Th2 and Treg cells.

Anti-inflammatory effect of galectin-1 in a murine model of atopic dermatitis

“…Reinforcing this regulatory aspect of Gal-1 on Th cells, another study found that lymphocytes isolated from Gal-1-null mice with chicken collagen II (CII)-induced arthritis significantly upregulated IL-17 and IL-22 production in vitro after 48 h of CII stimulation when compared to wildtype cells [25]. Furthermore, CD4 + T cells under Gal-1 treatment increased the secretion of Th2 cytokines and their expansion to CD4 + FOXP3 + Treg cells [26,27]. In our AD model, rGal-1 treatment increased plasma and skin levels of IL-10, as well as CD4 expression, in relation to untreated group.…”

Changes in protein expression profiles in bovine endometrial epithelial cells exposed to E. coli LPS challenge

“…In the human, this protein is abundantly expressed in the non-immune cells at the fetus-maternal interface, down regulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotes maternal immune tolerance 65 . In the mouse, Yakushina et al, 2015 66 shown that galectin-1 stimulates the differentiation of CD4+ cells into T-regulatory cells then being one of the key molecules involved in immune-tolerance. Probably as the result of the above, low expression in the endometrium has been associated to an increased frequency of early pregnancy failures and miscarriages 67,68 .…”

Galectin-1 inhibits PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells through the inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

“…Previous studies have proven that Gal-1 plays a profound role in resolving acute and chronic inflammation through regulating multiple processes, such as immune cell adhesion, differentiation, migration, proliferation, activation, apoptosis, and signaling pathways [12,13]. Interestingly, Gal-1 was reported to be involved in the progression of asthma [14][15][16]. However, the effects of Gal-1 on ASMCs are still unknown.…”