IQUIFIB   02644
INSTITUTO DE QUIMICA Y FISICOQUIMICA BIOLOGICAS "PROF. ALEJANDRO C. PALADINI"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Galectin-8: A matricellular lectin with key roles in angiogenesis
Autor/es:
TRONCOSO, MARÍA F.; FERRAGUT, FÁTIMA; BACIGALUPO, MARÍA L.; CÁRDERAS DELGADO, VICTOR M.; NUGNES, LORENA G.; GENTILINI, LUCAS; LADERACH, DIEGO; WOLFENSTEIN-TODEL, CARLOTA; COMPAGNO, DANIEL; RABINOVICH, GABRIEL A.; ELOLA, MARÍA T.
Revista:
GLYCOBIOLOGY
Editorial:
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2014 vol. 24 p. 907 - 914
ISSN:
0959-6658
Resumen:
Galectin-8 (Gal-8) is a ?tandem-repeat?-type galectin, containing
two carbohydrate
recognition domains connected
by a linker peptide. Gal-8 is expressed both in the cytoplasm and nucleus
in vascular endothelial cells from normal and tumor blood vessels, and in
lymphatic endothelial cells. The number of newly discovered genes and proteins contributing to
angiogenesis is growing too fast. Herein, an essential new role for Gal-8 in the regulation of
vascular and lymphatic angiogenesis is described, which might have critical
implications in tumor biology. Functional assays revealed Gal-8 roles in the
control of capillary-tube formation, endothelial cell migration, and in vivo angiogenesis. So far, two
endothelial ligands have been described for Gal-8, that is podoplanin in
lymphatic and CD166 (ALCAM, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule) in
vascular endothelial cells. Other related Gal-8 functions are also explored such
as cell adhesion and migration, which demonstrate the multi-functionality of this complex lectin. Taken together, we conclude
that Gal-8 is another player in the angiogenesis network, and an essential
molecule in the extracellular matrix by providing molecular anchoring to this
surrounding matrix. The potential
functions of Gal-8 in
tumor angiogenesis still remain to be studied, but it is exciting to speculate
that interfering with Gal-8 expression might be used to block lymphatic-vascular
connections vital for metastasis.