Galectins as inflammatory mediators

Over the last decade a vast amount of reports have shown that galectin-1 and galectin-3 are important mediators of inflammation. In this review we describe how the galectins may be involved in several parts of the inflammatory process, including the recruitment of neutrophils into an infected tissue and the recognition and killing of bacteria by activation of the tissue destructive phagocytic respiratory burst. During bacterial infection or aseptic inflammatory processes, galectins are produced and released by e.g. infected epithelium, activated tissue-resident macrophages and endothelial cells. These extracellular galectins may facilitate binding of neutrophils to the endothelium by cross-linking carbohydrates on the respective cells. Further the galectins improve binding of the neutrophil to the extracellular matrix proteins laminin and fibronectin, and are potential chemotactic factors, inducing migration through the extracellular matrix towards the inflammatory focus. When the cells encounter bacteria, galectin-3 could function as an opsonin, cross-linking bacterial lipopolysaccharide or other carbohydrate-containing surface structures to phagocyte surface glycoconjugates. Both galectin-1 and galectin-3 have the capacity to induce a respiratory burst in neutrophils, provided that the cells have been primed by degranulation and receptor upregulation. The reactive oxygen species produced may be destructive to the invading micro-organisms as well as to the surrounding host tissue, pointing out the possible role of galectins, not only in defence toward infection, but also in inflammatory-induced tissue destruction.     

Newcastle disease virus neuraminidase primes neutrophils for stimulation by galectin-3 and formyl-Met-Leu-Phe

Human neutrophils are activated by the β-galactoside-binding lectin galectin-3, provided that the cells are primed by in vivo extravasation or by in vitro preactivation with, for example, LPS. Removal of terminal sialic acid can change neutrophil functionality and responsiveness due to exposure of underlying glycoconjugate receptors or change in surface charge. Here, we investigated whether such alteration of the cell surface carbohydrate composition can alter the responsiveness of the cells to galectin-3. Neutrophils were treated with neuraminidases (NA) of different origins: Clostridium perfringens (CP), Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). In the presence of NDV-NA, but no other NA, the otherwise non-responding neutrophils responded readily to galectin-3 by activation of the NADPH-oxidase. The galectin-3 priming effect was inhibited by the sialidase inhibitor 2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Earlier studies have shown that priming of the neutrophil response to galectin-3 with, for example, LPS is paralleled by degranulation of intracellular vesicles and granules and upregulation of potential galectin-3 receptors. Also, NDV-NA (but not CP-NA) treatment induced degranulation, shown as an upregulation of complement receptor 3. Since not only the galectin response but also the response to the chemoattractant fMLF was primed, NDV-NA appears to induce a general priming phenomenon, possibly due to receptor upregulation by degranulation.     

Galectins as inflammatory mediators

Over the last decade a vast amount of reports have shown that galectin-1 and galectin-3 are important mediators of inflammation. In this review we describe how the galectins may be involved in several parts of the inflammatory process, including the recruitment of neutrophils into an infected tissue and the recognition and killing of bacteria by activation of the tissue destructive phagocytic respiratory burst. During bacterial infection or aseptic inflammatory processes, galectins are produced and released by e.g. infected epithelium, activated tissue-resident macrophages and endothelial cells. These extracellular galectins may facilitate binding of neutrophils to the endothelium by cross-linking carbohydrates on the respective cells. Further the galectins improve binding of the neutrophil to the extracellular matrix proteins laminin and fibronectin, and are potential chemotactic factors, inducing migration through the extracellular matrix towards the inflammatory focus. When the cells encounter bacteria, galectin-3 could function as an opsonin, cross-linking bacterial lipopolysaccharide or other carbohydrate-containing surface structures to phagocyte surface glycoconjugates. Both galectin-1 and galectin-3 have the capacity to induce a respiratory burst in neutrophils, provided that the cells have been primed by degranulation and receptor upregulation. The reactive oxygen species produced may be destructive to the invading micro-organisms as well as to the surrounding host tissue, pointing out the possible role of galectins, not only in defence toward infection, but also in inflammatory-induced tissue destruction. Published in 2004.     

Priming of human neutrophils by mycobacterial lipoarabinomannans: role of granule mobilisation.

Lipoarabinomannans (LAMs) from mycobacteria were investigated concerning their effect on human neutrophils. Two types of LAM, the mannose-capped ManLAM from the virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and the mannose-lacking AraLAM from a rapidly growing mycobacterial strain were used. Neither AraLAM nor ManLAM induced any significant direct activation of the NADPH-oxidase. Both LAMs, however, primed the neutrophils so that subsequent stimulation with the peptide chemoattractants fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF), Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-DMet (WKYMVm) and the mammalian lactose-binding lectin galectin-3 resulted in a markedly enhanced oxidative response. The LAM-induced priming was accompanied by an increased exposure of complement receptors 1 and 3 as well as the formyl peptide receptor on the neutrophil surface, suggesting that the enhanced oxidative response could be due to upregulation of receptors on the cell surface as a result of granule mobilisation. Since LAM-primed neutrophils released 65% of the cell content of gelatinase but showed no increased release of vitamin B(12)-binding protein, mobilisation of the gelatinase granules rather than the specific granules is concluded to be responsible for the priming effects. This is in agreement with the subcellular localisation of receptors for fMLF, WKYMVm, as well as galectin-3, which are stored in the secretory vesicles and gelatinase granules. The priming effect appeared very similar to that of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, and since no differences in activity could be detected between AraLAM and ManLAM, we hypothesize that the lipid anchor of the LAM is responsible for the priming effects.     

Analysis of selected blood and immune cell responses to carbohydrate-dependent surface binding of proto- and chimera-type galectins

Cell surface glycans present docking sites to endogenous lectins. With growing insight into the diversity of lectin families it becomes important to answer the question on the activity profiles of individual family members. Focusing on galectins (-galactoside-binding proteins without Ca²⁺-requirement sharing the jelly-roll-like folding pattern), this study was performed to assess the potency of proto-type galectins (galectins-1 and -7 and CG-16) and the chimera-type galectin-3 to elicit selected cell responses by carbohydrate-dependent surface binding and compare the results. The galectins, except for galectin-1, were found to enhance detergent (SDS)-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes to different degrees. Their ability to confer increased membrane osmofragility thus differs. Aggregation of neutrophils, thymocytes and platelets was induced by the proto-type galectin-1 but not -7, by CG-16 and also galectin-3. Cell-type-specific quantitative differences and the importance of the fine-specificity of the galectin were clearly apparent. In order to detect cellular responses based on galectin binding and bridging of cells the formation of haptenic-sugar-resistant (HSR) intercellular contacts (an indicator of post-binding signaling) was monitored. It was elicited by CG-16 and galectin-1 but not galectin-3, revealing another level at which activities of individual galectins can differ. Acting as potent elicitor of neutrophil aggregation, CG-16-dependent post-binding effects were further analyzed. Carbohydrate-dependent binding to the neutrophils' surface led to a sustained increase of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The ability of CG-16 to activate H₂O₂ generation by human peripheral blood neutrophils was primed by the Ca²⁺-ionophor ionomycin and by cytochalasin B. In a general context, these results emphasize that – besides plant lectins as laboratory tools – animal lectins can trigger cell reaction cascades, implying potential in vivo relevance for the measured activities. Within the family of galectins, the activity profiles depend on the target cell type and the individual galectin. Notably, proto-type galectins do not necessarily share a uniform capacity as elicitor.     

Cell surface counter receptors are essential components of the unconventional export machinery of galectin-1

Galectin-1 is a component of the extracellular matrix as well as a ligand of cell surface counter receptors such as beta-galactoside-containing glycolipids, however, the molecular mechanism of galectin-1 secretion has remained elusive. Based on a nonbiased screen for galectin-1 export mutants we have identified 26 single amino acid changes that cause a defect of both export and binding to counter receptors. When wild-type galectin-1 was analyzed in CHO clone 13 cells, a mutant cell line incapable of expressing functional galectin-1 counter receptors, secretion was blocked. Intriguingly, we also find that a distant relative of galectin-1, the fungal lectin CGL-2, is a substrate for nonclassical export from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Alike mammalian galectin-1, a CGL-2 mutant defective in beta-galactoside binding, does not get exported from CHO cells. We conclude that the beta-galactoside binding site represents the primary targeting motif of galectins defining a galectin export machinery that makes use of beta-galactoside-containing surface molecules as export receptors for intracellular galectin-1.     

Activation of oxidative burst and degranulation of porcine neutrophils by a homologous spleen galectin-1 compared to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Galectins are a family of animal lectins defined by their beta-galactoside-binding activities and a consensus sequence in their carbohydrate-recognizing domain (CRD). Relevant roles of galectins are described in adaptive immune response, innate immunity and modulation of the acute inflammatory response. We have extended our previous studies on a porcine spleen galectin-1 in relation to its functional roles such as polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) stimulation compared to well known PMN activators e.g. N-formyl-L-methionyl-L leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Relative to activation of NADPH-oxidase fMLP and PMA are stronger than galectin-1 plus cytochalasin B (CB) when the lectin is employed at low concentrations (gal-1 1 microM, 3.6+0.8 nm O(2)(-)/min/10(7) PMN). Higher doses of galectin-1 (10 microM) plus CB produced a significant activation of NADPH-oxidase (27.9+14.8 nm O(2)(-)/min/10(7) PMN) and stimulated PMN degranulation up to 50%. We propose that local galectin-1 concentrations under physiological conditions might reach suitable levels for pig PMN stimulation, and might be a natural inducer of O(2)(-) formation or degranulation. Porcine galectins might produce enhanced responses in vivo when they stimulate neutrophils in combination with some other stimuli.     

Identification of CD66a and CD66b as the major galectin-3 receptor candidates in human neutrophils.

The mammalian lectin galectin-3 is a potent stimulus of human neutrophils, provided that the receptor(s) for the lectin has been mobilized to the cell surface before activation. We have recently shown that the receptors for galectin-3 are stored in intracellular mobilizable granules. Here we show supportive evidence for this in that DMSO-differentiated (neutrophil-like) HL-60 cells, which lack gelatinase and specific granules, are nonresponsive when exposed to galectin-3. Neutrophil granules were subsequently used for isolation of galectin-3 receptors by affinity chromatography. Proteins eluted from a galectin-3-Sepharose column by lactose were analyzed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and showed two major bands of 100 and 160 kDa and a minor band of 120 kDa. By immunoblotting, these proteins were shown to correspond to CD66a (160 kDa), CD66b (100 kDa), and lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein-1 and -2 (Lamp-1 and -2; 120 kDa). The unresponsive HL-60 cells lacked the CD66 Ags but contained the Lamps, implying that neutrophil CD66a and/or CD66b may be the functional galectin-3 receptors. This conclusion was supported by the subcellular localization of the CD66 proteins to the gelatinase and specific granules in resting neutrophils.     

Complex N-glycans are the major ligands for galectin-1, -3, and -8 on Chinese hamster ovary cells

Galectins are implicated in a large variety of biological functions, many of which depend on their carbohydrate-binding ability. Fifteen members of the family have been identified in vertebrates based on binding to galactose (Gal) that is mediated by one or two, evolutionarily conserved, carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs). Variations in glycan structures expressed on glycoconjugates at the cell surface may, therefore, affect galectin binding and functions. To identify roles for different glycans in the binding of the three types of mammalian galectins to cells, we performed fluorescence cytometry at 4 degrees C with recombinant rat galectin-1, human galectin-3, and three forms of human galectin-8, to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and 12 different CHO glycosylation mutants. All galectin species bound to parent CHO cells and binding was inhibited >90% by 0.2 M lactose. Galectin-8 isoforms with either a long or a short inter-CRD linker bound similarly to CHO cells. However, a truncated form of galectin-8 containing only the N-terminal CRD bound only weakly to CHO cells and the C-terminal galectin-8 CRD exhibited extremely low binding. Binding of the galectins to the different CHO glycosylation mutants revealed that complex N-glycans are the major ligands for each galectin except the N-terminal CRD of galectins-8, and also identified some fine differences in glycan recognition. Interestingly, increased binding of galectin-1 at 4 degrees C correlated with increased propidium iodide (PI) uptake, whereas galectin-3 or -8 binding did not induce permeability to PI. The CHO glycosylation mutants with various repertoires of cell surface glycans are a useful tool for investigating galectin-cell interactions as they present complex and simple glycans in a natural mixture of multivalent protein and lipid glycoconjugates anchored in a cell membrane.     

Binding and cross-linking properties of galectins

The galectins are a family of animal lectins that possess similar carbohydrate binding specificities and conserved consensus sequences. The biological properties of mammalian galectins include the regulation of inflammation, cell adhesion, cell proliferation and cell death. Evidence suggests that the biological activities of the galectins are related to their multivalent binding properties since most galectins possess two carbohydrate recognition domains and are therefore bivalent. For example, galectin-1, which is dimeric, binds and cross-links specific glycoprotein counter-receptors on the surface of human T-cells leading to apoptosis [J. Immunol. 163 (1999) 3801]. Different galectin-1 counter-receptors associated with specific phosphatase or kinase activities formed separate clusters on the surface of the cells as a result of the lectin binding to the carbohydrate chains of the respective glycoproteins. Importantly, monovalent galectin-1 is inactive in this system. This indicates that the separation and organization of signaling molecules that result from galectin-1 binding is involved in the apoptotic signal. The separation of specific glycoprotein receptors induced by galectin-1 binding was modeled on the basis of molecular and structural studies of the binding of lectins to multivalent carbohydrates resulting in the formation of specific two- and three-dimensional cross-linked lattices [Biochemistry 36 (1997) 15073]. In this article, the binding and cross-linking properties of galectin-1 and other lectins are reviewed as a model for the biological signal transduction properties of the galectin family of animal lectins.     

Galectin-3 and galectin-1 bind distinct cell surface glycoprotein receptors to induce T cell death

Galectins are a family of mammalian beta-galactoside-binding proteins that positively and negatively regulate T cell death. Extracellular galectin-1 directly induces death of T cells and thymocytes, while intracellular galectin-3 blocks T cell death. In contrast to the antiapoptotic function of intracellular galectin-3, we demonstrate that extracellular galectin-3 directly induces death of human thymocytes and T cells. However, events in galectin-3- and galectin-1-induced cell death differ in a number of ways. Thymocyte subsets demonstrate different susceptibility to the two galectins: whereas galectin-1 kills double-negative and double-positive human thymocytes with equal efficiency, galectin-3 preferentially kills double-negative thymocytes. Galectin-3 binds to a complement of T cell surface glycoprotein receptors distinct from that recognized by galectin-1. Of these glycoprotein receptors, CD45 and CD71, but not CD29 and CD43, appear to be involved in galectin-3-induced T cell death. In addition, CD7 that is required for galectin-1-induced death is not required for death triggered by galectin-3. Following galectin-3 binding, CD45 remains uniformly distributed on the cell surface, in contrast to the CD45 clustering induced by galectin-1. Thus, extracellular galectin-3 and galectin-1 induce death of T cells through distinct cell surface events. However, as galectin-3 and galectin-1 cell death are neither additive nor synergistic, the two death pathways may converge inside the cell.     

Structural features of galectin-9 and galectin-1 that determine distinct T cell death pathways

The galectin family of lectins regulates multiple biologic functions, such as development, inflammation, immunity, and cancer. One common function of several galectins is the ability to trigger T cell death. However, differences among the death pathways triggered by various galectins with regard to glycoprotein receptors, intracellular death pathways, and target cell specificity are not well understood. Specifically, galectin-9 and galectin-1 both kill thymocytes, peripheral T cells, and T cell lines; however, we have found that galectin-9 and galectin-1 require different glycan ligands and glycoprotein receptors to trigger T cell death. The two galectins also utilize different intracellular death pathways, as galectin-9, but not galectin-1, T cell death was blocked by intracellular Bcl-2, whereas galectin-1, but not galectin-9, T cell death was blocked by intracellular galectin-3. Target cell susceptibility also differed between the two galectins, as galectin-9 and galectin-1 killed different subsets of murine thymocytes. To define structural features responsible for distinct activities of the tandem repeat galectin-9 and dimeric galectin-1, we created a series of bivalent constructs with galectin-9 and galectin-1 carbohydrate recognition domains connected by different peptide linkers. We found that the N-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain and linker peptide contributed to the potency of these constructs. However, we found that the C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain was the primary determinant of receptor recognition, death pathway signaling, and target cell susceptibility. Thus, carbohydrate recognition domain specificity, presentation, and valency make distinct contributions to the specific effects of different galectins in initiating T cell death.     

Biochemical analysis and subcellular localization of a neutrophil-specific antigen, PMN-7, involved in the respiratory burst

The adherence of serum-opsonized yeast to neutrophils results in phagocytosis of these particulate stimuli and activation of the respiratory burst. Both events are mediated or modulated in part by the surface receptors for IgG and complement. The link between the binding of complex particulate stimuli to the cell surface, and the triggering of these neutrophil functions, is not completely understood. We have previously described an anti-human neutrophil, murine monoclonal antibody PMN7C3, which specifically inhibits the respiratory burst of neutrophils stimulated with serum-opsonized yeast. In the present study, we show that the antigen recognized by PMN7C3 (PMN7 antigen) is present on a number of neutrophil proteins, including the recently described group of related leukocyte membrane glycoproteins CR3, LFA-1, and p150,95. The PMN-7 antigen differs from other antigens associated with the C3bi receptor complex (MAC 1, MO 1, OKM1, OKM10) in that it is present only on neutrophils among peripheral blood cells. Furthermore, the binding of PMN7C3 to the neutrophil surface inhibits the activation of the respiratory burst by serum opsonized zymosan without affecting phagocytosis of these particulate stimuli. The cross-linking of cell surface PMN7 antigen by multivalent antibody is associated with the capping and internalization of antigen-antibody complexes, and appears to be necessary for the expression of maximum inhibition of opsonized zymosan-triggered respiratory burst activity. PMN7C3 also binds to a group of granule-associated proteins biochemically distinct from CR3, LFA-1, and p150,95. These granule-associated proteins containing PMN7 antigen can be mobilized to the cell surface with secretion. PMN7 antigen-bearing proteins may play a role in modulating the activation of the respiratory burst associated with phagocytosis of serum-opsonize zymosan.     

Galectin-8 modulates neutrophil function via interaction with integrin alphaM

The members of the galectin family are associated with diverse cellular events, including immune response. We investigated the effects of galectin-8 on neutrophil function. Human galectin-8 induced firm and reversible adhesion of peripheral blood neutrophils but not eosinophils to a plastic surface in a lactose-sensitive manner. Other human galectins, galectins-1, -3, and -9, showed low or negligible effects on neutrophil adhesion. Confocal microscopy revealed actin bundle formation in the presence of galectin-8. Cytochalasins inhibited both actin assembly and cell adhesion induced by galectin-8. Affinity purification of galectin-interacting proteins from solubilized neutrophil membrane revealed that N-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of galectin-8 bound promatrix metalloproteinase-9 (proMMP-9), and C-terminal CRD bound integrin alphaM/CD11b and proMMP-9. A mutant galectin-8 lacking the carbohydrate-binding activity of N-terminal CRD (galectin-8R69H) retained adhesion-inducing activity, but inactivation of C-terminal CRD (galectin-8R233H) abolished the activity. MMP-3-mediated processing of proMMP-9 was accelerated by galectin-8, and this effect was inhibited by lactose. Galectins-1 and -3 did not affect the processing. Superoxide production, an essential event in bactericidal function of neutrophils, was stimulated by galectin-8 to an extent comparable to that induced by fMLP. Galectin-8R69H but not galectin-8R233H could stimulate superoxide production. Taken together, these results suggest that galectin-8 is a novel factor that modulates the neutrophil function related to transendothelial migration and microbial killing.     

The sweet and bitter sides of galectins in melanoma progression

Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-related deaths, which is due in large part to its aggressive behavior, resistance to therapy, and ability to metastasize to multiple organs such as the lymph nodes, lung, and brain. Melanoma progresses in a stepwise manner from the benign nevus, to radial spreading through the dermis, to a vertical invasive phase, and finally to metastasis. The carbohydrate-binding family of galectins has a strong influence on each phase of melanoma progression through their effects on immune surveillance, angiogenesis, cell migration, tumor cell adhesion, and the cellular response to chemotherapy. Galectins share significant homology in their carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), which mediates binding to an array of N-glycosylated proteins located on the surface of tumor cells, endothelial cells, T-cells, and to similarly glycosylated extracellular matrix proteins. Galectins are also present within tumor cells where they perform anti-apoptotic functions and enhance intracellular signaling that results in deregulated expression of genes involved in tumor progression. The most extensively studied galectins, galectin-1 and galectin-3, have been shown to have profound effects on melanoma growth and metastasis by influencing many of these biological processes.     

Functional analyses of placental protein 13/galectin-13.

Placental protein 13 (PP13) was cloned from human term placenta. As sequence analyses, alignments and computational modelling showed its conserved structural and functional homology to members of the galectin family, the protein was designated galectin-13. Similar to human eosinophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein/galectin-10 but not other galectins, its weak lysophospholipase activity was confirmed by 31P-NMR. In this study, recombinant PP13/galectin-13 was expressed and specific monoclonal antibody to PP13 was developed. Endogenous lysophospholipase activity of both the purified and also the recombinant protein was verified. Sugar binding assays revealed that N-acetyl-lactosamine, mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine residues widely expressed in human placenta had the strongest binding affinity to both the purified and recombinant PP13/galectin-13, which also effectively agglutinated erythrocytes. The protein was found to be a homodimer of 16 kDa subunits linked together by disulphide bonds, a phenomenon differing from the noncovalent dimerization of previously known prototype galectins. Furthermore, reducing agents were shown to decrease its sugar binding activity and abolish its haemagglutination. Phosphorylation sites were computed on PP13/galectin-13, and phosphorylation of the purified protein was confirmed. Using affinity chromatography, PAGE, MALDI-TOF MS and post source decay, annexin II and beta/gamma actin were identified as proteins specifically bound to PP13/galectin-13 in placenta and fetal hepatic cells. Perinuclear staining of the syncytiotrophoblasts showed its expression in these cells, while strong labelling of the syncytiotrophoblasts' brush border membrane confirmed its galectin-like externalization to the cell surface. Knowing its colocalization and specific binding to annexin II, PP13/galectin-13 was assumed to be secreted to the outer cell surface by ectocytosis, in microvesicles containing actin and annexin II. With regard to our functional and immunomorphological results, PP13/galectin-13 may have special haemostatic and immunobiological functions at the lining of the common feto-maternal blood-spaces or developmental role in the placenta.     

Activation of human neutrophils by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-derived sulfolipid-1.

The principal sulfatide of a group of acidic lipids from virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sulfolipid-1 (SL-1), stimulates neutrophil superoxide (O2-) generation and, at lower concentrations, primes neutrophil response to several other metabolic agonists including FMLP, and PMA. These responses to SL-1 were examined in relation to diacylglycerol (DAG) generation, Ca2+ availability and activation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins to clarify the signal transduction pathways involved. Pertussis toxin inhibited the ability of SL-1 to both stimulate neutrophils directly and to prime neutrophils for subsequent responses induced by PMA, suggesting a role for one or more guanine nucleotide regulating proteins in both responses. SL-1 induced a rise in neutrophil DAG levels. DAG generation was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ ablated O2- release induced by stimulatory levels of SL-1 but did not inhibit the priming effect induced by substimulatory concentrations of the lipid. Investigation of the activation of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system revealed that the SL-1-priming effect was associated with translocation of the soluble cytosolic factors required for activation of the enzyme. Cytosolic factor translocation was not observed in pertussis toxin pretreated cells. Our results provide evidence for the role of a guanine nucleotide binding protein in both priming and direct activation of neutrophils by SL-1. This G protein regulates both SL-1-induced DAG generation and cytosolic cofactor translocation involved in neutrophil activation and priming. The multiplicity of effects of SL-1 on signal transduction pathways leading to phagocyte activation and priming may exert a profound influence on the pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis.     

Quaternary solution structures of galectins-1, -3, and -7

Galectins are a growing family of animal lectins with functions in growth regulation and cell adhesion that bind beta-Gal residues in oligosaccharides. Evidence indicates that some of the biological properties of galectins are due to their cross-linking activities with multivalent glycoconjugate receptors. Therefore determination of the quaternary solution structures of these proteins is important in understanding their structure-function properties. The present study reports analytical sedimentation velocity and equilibrium data for galectins-1, -3, and -7 in the absence and presence of bound LacNAc, the natural ligand epitope. Galectin-1 from bovine heart and recombinant human galectin-7 were found to be stable dimers by both methods. In contrast, recombinant murine galectin-3, as well as its proteolytical derived C-terminal domain, are predominantly monomeric. The presence of LacNAc at concentrations sufficient to fully saturate the proteins had no significant effect on either the weight average molecular weight determined by sedimentation equilibrium or the hydrodynamic properties determined from sedimentation velocity experiments. These results show that binding of a monovalent ligand does not affect oligomerization of these galectins.     

Specificity of interactions of galectin-3 with Chrp,a cysteine- and histidine-rich cytoplasmic protein

Earlier work described the cloning of a gene from murine 3T3 cells encoding a cytoplasmic protein Chrp containing a cysteine- and histidine-rich motif characteristic of Zn-finger proteins. The interaction of Chrp with murine galectin-3 first became evident in a yeast two-hybrid screen, but it was also observed in co-precipitation experiments from 3T3 cell lysates. Here, the formation of equimolar complexes by murine Chrp and hamster galectin-3 is shown. Moreover, we found that Chrp binds to the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of hamster galectin-3 and not to the N-terminal domain carrying the proline- and glycine-rich repeats characteristic of galectin-3 and absent in other galectins. However, galectin-1 does not bind to Chrp, although its CRD is homologous to the galectin-3 CRD. Finally, we report that galectin-3, in a complex with Chrp, binds to laminin in surface plasmon resonance experiments with similar kinetics and affinity as it does in the free state. The formation of higher-order complexes containing these proteins and additional binding partners may be relevant to cytoplasmic functions involving galectin-3.     

Small G-proteins Ras,Rac and Rho in the regulation of the neutrophil respiratory burst induced by formyl peptide

Formylated peptides specifically activate many of the neutrophil functions; their action is mediated via formyl peptide receptors (FPRs). FPRs belong to the family of receptors having seven transmembrane-spanning domains and coupled with G-proteins (GPCR). About a dozen of highly homologous genes of FPRs were found to be localized in mouse chromosome 17. By binding with labeled N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF), FPRs are classified as receptors with high (FPR1) and low (FPR2 and FPR3/FPRL1) affinity to formyl peptide. Binding of formyl peptide with FPRs triggers the complex signaling events, the most studied are: activation of phospholipase C (PLC) with subsequent calcium signaling; launching of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascade pathway, and activation of phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) cascades. As we have shown previously, the priming of the respiratory burst of mice neutrophils occurs under the cell activation by fMLF in high doses only, i.e., it is necessary to activate low affinity FPRs. Besides, the usage of the specific MEK and p38MAPK inhibitors induced significant suppression of the response to 1 μM fMLM, while the response to 50 μM fMLF increased in the presence of the inhibitors. We suggest that there is a signal divergence upon activation of high and low affinity fMLF receptors, and small G protein dependent signaling pathways could be alternative to activate NADPH oxidase. Here we demonstrate that Ras-proteins participate in the respiratory burst activation, especially in activation via the high affinity fMLF receptors. Activation of the Rho- and Rac-proteins induced the down-regulation of the respiratory burst under the stimulation of high affinity FPRs. The inhibition of the Rho-proteins almost completely suppressed the respiratory burst activated via the high and low affinity receptors, probably due to inability to assemble of the cytoskeleton proteins and NADPH oxidase components.