Hierarchical and selective roles of galectins in hepatocarcinogenesis, liver fibrosis and inflammation of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACIGALUPO, ML; MANZI, M; RABINOVICH, GA; TRONCOSO, MF

World Clinical Gastroenterology

Baishideng Publishing Group

Año: 2014; p. 906 - 924

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a globalhealth problem. Infections with hepatitis B or C virus,non-alcoholic steatohepatitis disease, alcohol abuse, ordietary exposure to aflatoxin are the major risk factorsto the development of this tumor. Regardless of thecarcinogenic insult, HCC usually develops in a contextof cirrhosis due to chronic inflammation and advancedfibrosis. Galectins are a family of evolutionarily-conservedproteins defined by at least one carbohydraterecognition domain with affinity for β-galactosides andconserved sequence motifs. Here, we summarize thecurrent literature implicating galectins in the pathogenesisof HCC. Expression of ?proto-type? galectin-1,?chimera-type? galectin-3 and ?tandem repeat-type?galectin-4 is up-regulated in HCC cells compared totheir normal counterparts. On the other hand, the?tandem-repeat-type? lectins galectin-8 and galectin-9are down-regulated in tumor hepatocytes. The abnormalexpression of these galectins correlates withtumor growth, HCC cell migration and invasion, tumoraggressiveness, metastasis, postoperative recurrenceand poor prognosis. Moreover, these galectins haveimportant roles in other pathological conditions of theliver, where chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis takeplace. Galectin-based therapies have been proposedto attenuate liver pathologies. Further functional studiesare required to delineate the precise molecularmechanisms through which galectins contribute toHCC.