Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis
Galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that contribute to multiple cellular functions, including immune surveillance and apoptosis. Human galectins are also important regulators of inflammation, making them a research target for various inflammatory diseases and tumorigene...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/2/230 |
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| author | Brooke V. Hisrich R. Brant Young Alison M. Sansone Zachary Bowens Lisa J. Green Bruce A. Lessey Anna V. Blenda |
| author_facet | Brooke V. Hisrich R. Brant Young Alison M. Sansone Zachary Bowens Lisa J. Green Bruce A. Lessey Anna V. Blenda |
| author_sort | Brooke V. Hisrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that contribute to multiple cellular functions, including immune surveillance and apoptosis. Human galectins are also important regulators of inflammation, making them a research target for various inflammatory diseases and tumorigenesis associated with pro-inflammatory conditions. This review focuses on the involvement of human galectins in modulation of inflammation and in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and endometriosis-associated neoplasms. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. Galectins-1, -3 and -9 were found to be overexpressed in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of females with endometriosis compared to those without endometriosis. These findings suggest galectins’ role in the progression on endometriotic lesions and their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic approaches. Galectins-1, -3, and -9 have also been implicated in the development of endometriosis-associated neoplasms. Furthermore, galectin-3 has been shown to interact with KRAS protein and contribute to cellular growth, proliferation, inflammation, and the uptake of nutrients in endometriotic lesions and may be involved in the maintenance and propagation of endometriosis. These galectins have been shown to be upregulated in certain forms of cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and colon cancer associated with endometriosis and have become a potential target for anti-cancer therapies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:15:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a68dad8d96b44c228980ed84444cf5e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:15:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-a68dad8d96b44c228980ed84444cf5e22022-12-22T00:13:24ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2020-02-0110223010.3390/biom10020230biom10020230Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with EndometriosisBrooke V. Hisrich0R. Brant Young1Alison M. Sansone2Zachary Bowens3Lisa J. Green4Bruce A. Lessey5Anna V. Blenda6Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prisma Health, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prisma Health, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prisma Health, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Greenville, SC 29605, USADepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC 29605, USAGalectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that contribute to multiple cellular functions, including immune surveillance and apoptosis. Human galectins are also important regulators of inflammation, making them a research target for various inflammatory diseases and tumorigenesis associated with pro-inflammatory conditions. This review focuses on the involvement of human galectins in modulation of inflammation and in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and endometriosis-associated neoplasms. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. Galectins-1, -3 and -9 were found to be overexpressed in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of females with endometriosis compared to those without endometriosis. These findings suggest galectins’ role in the progression on endometriotic lesions and their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic approaches. Galectins-1, -3, and -9 have also been implicated in the development of endometriosis-associated neoplasms. Furthermore, galectin-3 has been shown to interact with KRAS protein and contribute to cellular growth, proliferation, inflammation, and the uptake of nutrients in endometriotic lesions and may be involved in the maintenance and propagation of endometriosis. These galectins have been shown to be upregulated in certain forms of cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and colon cancer associated with endometriosis and have become a potential target for anti-cancer therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/2/230galectinpathophysiologyendometriosisinflammationcancer |
| spellingShingle | Brooke V. Hisrich R. Brant Young Alison M. Sansone Zachary Bowens Lisa J. Green Bruce A. Lessey Anna V. Blenda Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis Biomolecules galectin pathophysiology endometriosis inflammation cancer |
| title | Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis |
| title_full | Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis |
| title_fullStr | Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis |
| title_short | Role of Human Galectins in Inflammation and Cancers Associated with Endometriosis |
| title_sort | role of human galectins in inflammation and cancers associated with endometriosis |
| topic | galectin pathophysiology endometriosis inflammation cancer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/2/230 |
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