The two faces of galectin-3: Roles in various pathological conditions

Abstract

© 2016, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Galectin-3, a unique chimaera-type member of the lectin family, displays a wide range of activities. This versatile molecule is involved in fundamental biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell-cell adhesion, apoptosis and immune responses. This review is aimed at providing a general overview of the biological actions and diverse effects of Galectin-3 in many pathological conditions, with a specific focus on autoimmunity, inflammation and tumour progression. We report herein that Galectin-3 exerts deleterious functions determined by promotion of tumour progression and liver inflammation or aggravation of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, Galectin-3 exhibits a protective role in metabolic abnormalities and primary biliary cirrhosis. The paradoxical yin and yang functions of Galectin-3 depend not only on its tissue and cellular localization but also on its availability, glycosylation status and the expression level of its ligands.