IQUIBICEN   23947
INSTITUTO DE QUIMICA BIOLOGICA DE LA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EXACTAS Y NATURALES
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Involvement of galectin-1 in reproduction: past, present and future
Autor/es:
BARRIENTOS, G; FREITAG, N; TIRADO-GONZÁLEZ, I; UNVERDORBEN, L; JESCHKE, U; THIJSSEN, VL; BLOIS, SM
Revista:
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE.
Editorial:
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Referencias:
Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2014 vol. 20 p. 175 - 193
ISSN:
1355-4786
Resumen:
BACKGROUND After
recognition of its pivotal contribution to fetomaternal tolerance, the
study of galectin-1 (gal-1) functions in the
context of pregnancy became an attractive topic
in reproductive medicine. Despite considerable advances in the
understanding
of the immuno- and growth-regulatory properties
of gal-1 at the fetal?maternal interface, many functional aspects of
this
lectin in reproduction are only emerging.
METHODS The published
literature was searched using Pubmed focusing on gal-1 signalling and
functional properties at the maternal?fetal
interface, including data on its implication in
pregnancy disorders and malignancies of the female reproductive system.
Papers
discussing animal and human studies were
included.
RESULTS This review
provides an overview of gal-1 functions during pregnancy, such as
modulation of maternal immune responses and
roles in embryo implantation and placentation.
We also emphasize the role of gal-1 in key regulatory processes,
including
trophoblast migration, invasion, syncytium
formation and expression of non-classical MHC class I molecules (HLA-G).
In addition,
we argue in favour of gal-1 pro-angiogenic
properties, as observed in tumourigenesis and other pathological
settings, and
its implication in the angiogenesis process
associated with early gestation.
CONCLUSION The
involvement of gal-1 in the regulation of different processes during the
establishment, development and maintenance of
pregnancy could be described as unique. Gal-1
has emerged as an important lectin with major functions in pregnancy.