Autoimmune disorders in galectin-3 deficient mice

Abstract

Despite the fact that all galectins have a galactose-defined specificity, galectin-3 has important pro-inflammatory role while other members of the galectin family, including galectin-1, galectin-2, galectin-4, galectin-9, mainly have anti-inflammatory effects in autoimmune disorders. The basis for such a completely opposite effect of galectin-3 in immune regulation remains unclear and merits further in-depth investigation. It is important that galectin-3 has pro-inflammatory role in T-cell mediated diseases: Con A induced hepatitis, MLD-STZ diabetes, EAE and antigen induced arthritis. Targeting galectin-3 as endogenous inflammatory mediator should serve as a platform for designing novel drugs with aim to prevent or resolve the inflammatory response in T cell mediated autoimmune pathology. © 2012 American Chemical Society.