Galectin-1 promotes KSHV-mediated PDGFRA activation on mesenchymal stem cells

RAJAMAHENDRAN R.; BANNOUD N; CROCI DO; MASONE D; RABINOVICH GA; GAMBARTE J; GARCÍA PA; CERLIANI JP

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXIV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica; 2019

Galectin-1 (Gal1) is an endogenous immunoregulatory lectin that contributes to tumor immune-scape by inducing apoptosis of T cells and angiogenesis via recognition of complex N-glycans on VEGFR2. Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is characterized by the proliferation of spindle cells and deregulated angiogenesis. Recent reports have shown that Kaposi-associated herpes virus (KSHV) seizes control of PDGFRA signaling to drive KS. This study aims to investigate the influence of Gal1-N-glycan interactions in KSHV-mediated sarcomagenic signaling of PDGFRA. First, we differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) from C57BL/6 mice and explored their glycophenotype using a panel of nine lectins. mMSC exhibited high levels of complex branched N-glycans with poly-LacNAc elongations, indicating permissive glycoepitopes for Gal-1. Accordingly, Gal-1 binds to mMSC in a dose and carbohydrate-dependent manner (p