Dual roles of endogenous and exogenous galectin-1 in the control of testicular immunopathology

PÉREZ CV; GOMEZ LG; GUALDONI GS; LUSTIG L; RABINOVICH G; GUAZZONE VA

Scientific Reports

Nature Publishing Group

Año: 2015

Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a proto-type member of galectin family, is highly expressed in immune privileged sites, including the testis. However, in spite of considerable progress the relevance of endogenousand exogenous Gal-1 in testis pathophysiology have not yet been explored. Here we evaluatedthe in vivo roles of Gal-1 in experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO), a well-established modelof autoimmune testicular inflammation associated with subfertility and infertility. A significantreduction in the incidence and severity of EAO was observed in mice genetically deficient in Gal-1(Lgals1−/−) versus wild-type (WT) mice. Testicular histopathology revealed the presence of multifocaltesticular damage in WT mice characterized by an interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrate and differentdegrees of germ cell sloughing of seminiferous tubules. TUNEL assay and assessment of activecaspase-3 expression, revealed the prevalence of apoptotic spermatocytes mainly localized in theadluminal compartment of seminiferous tubules in EAO mice. A significant increased number ofTUNEL-positive germ cells was detected in EAO testis from WT compared with Lgals1−/− mice. Incontrast, exogenous administration of recombinant Gal-1 to WT mice undergoing EAO attenuatedthe severity of the disease. Our results unveil a dual role of endogenous versus exogenous Gal-1 inthe control of autoimmune testis inflammation.Galectins a family of glycan-binding proteins are mainly defined by a common structural fold and