"Time sweet time": circadian characterization of galectin-1 null mice.

CASIRAGHI LP; CROCI DO; POIRIER F; RABINOVICH GA,; GOLOMBEK DA

J Circadian Rhythms

BioMed Central

Lugar: London ; Año: 2010 vol. 8 p. 1 - 7

1740 3391

AbstractBackground: Recent evidence suggests a two-way interaction between the immune and circadian systems. Circadiancontrol of immune factors, as well as the effect of immunological variables on circadian rhythms, might be keyelements in both physiological and pathological responses to the environment. Among these relevant factors,galectin-1 is a member of a family of evolutionarily-conserved glycan-binding proteins with both extracellular andintracellular effects, playing important roles in immune cell processes and inflammatory responses. Many of theseactions have been studied through the use of mice with a null mutation in the galectin-1 (Lgals1) gene. To furtheranalyze the role of endogenous galectin-1 in vivo, we aimed to characterize the circadian behavior of galectin-1 null(Lgals1-/-) mice.Methods: We analyzed wheel-running activity in light-dark conditions, constant darkness, phase responses to lightpulses (LP) at circadian time 15, and reentrainment to 6 hour shifts in light-dark schedule in wild-type (WT) and Lgals1-/- mice.Results: We found significant differences in free-running period, which was longer in mutant than in WT mice (24.02 vs23.57 h, p < 0.005), phase delays in response to LP (2.92 vs 1.90 circadian h, p < 0.05), and also in alpha (14.88 vs. 12.35circadian h, p < 0.05).Conclusions: Given the effect of a null mutation on circadian period and entrainment, we indicate that galectin-1could be involved in the regulation of murine circadian rhythmicity. This is the first study implicating galectin-1 in themammalian circadian system.