Galectin-3

Galectin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LGALS3 gene. Galectin-3 is a member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family, which plays a role in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. This protein is involved in various biological functions, including apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell cycle regulation.

Structure

Galectin-3 is a monomer in solution, but can polymerize into multivalent complexes on the cell surface or extracellular matrix. The protein is composed of three structural domains: a short non-lectin segment, which is involved in oligomerization; a collagen-like domain, which participates in self-association and receptor clustering; and a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), which mediates binding to galactose-containing glycoconjugates.

Function

Galectin-3 is involved in various biological functions. It plays a role in inflammation and immune response, by regulating cell growth and proliferation, and by modulating cytokine production. Galectin-3 also participates in cell adhesion, cell migration, and angiogenesis. In addition, it is involved in tumor progression and metastasis, by promoting cell survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis.

Clinical significance

Elevated levels of galectin-3 have been associated with various types of cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. It has been suggested that galectin-3 may serve as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, galectin-3 has been implicated in heart failure, fibrosis, and inflammatory diseases, and may serve as a therapeutic target for these conditions.

See also

• Galectin
• Lectin
• Cancer biomarker
• Heart failure