Skip Navigation


Glycobiology Advance Access originally published online on November 24, 2003
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
14/2/127    most recent
cwh025v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (8)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Martinez, V. G.
Right arrow Articles by Iglesias, M. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Martinez, V. G.
Right arrow Articles by Iglesias, M. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Glycobiology vol 14 no 2 pp. 127-137, 2004
© Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved.

Galectin-1, a cell adhesion modulator, induces apoptosis of rat Leydig cells in vitro

Vanesa G. Martinez2, Eliana H. Pellizzari3, Emilce S. Díaz4, Selva B. Cigorraga3, Livia Lustig4, Berta Denduchis4, Carlota Wolfenstein-Todel2 and M. Mercedes Iglesias1,2

2 Instituto de Química y Fisicoquómica Biológicas (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquómica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junón 956, (1113) Buenos Aires, Argentina; 3 Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas (CONICET), Hospital de Niños ìRicardo Gutierrez, Gallo 1330, (1425) Buenos Aires, Argentina; and 4 Centro de Investigaciones en Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, (1121) Buenos Aires, Argentina

Received on June 12, 2003; revised on July 7, 2003; accepted on October 16, 2003

Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a beta galactoside-binding lectin, is involved in multiple biological functions, such as cell adhesion, apoptosis, and metastasis. On the basis of its ability to interact with extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins, we investigated the Gal-1 effect on Leydig cells, which express and are influenced by ECM proteins. In this study, Gal-1 was identified in Leydig cell cultures by immunofluorescence. To gain insight into its biological role, Gal-1 was added to purified rat Leydig cells, under both basal and human chorionic gonadotrophin–stimulated conditions. Substantial morphological changes were observed, and cell viability showed an 80% decrease after 24 h culture. As a functional consequence of Gal-1 addition, testosterone production was reduced in a dose-dependent fashion, reaching a minimum of 26% after 24 h compared with basal values. cAMP showed a similar variation after 3 h. Assessment of DNA hypodiploidy and caspase activity determinations indicated that the reduction in viability and in steroidogenesis was caused by apoptosis induced by Gal-1. Besides, addition of Gal-1 caused Leydig cell detachment. Presence of laminin-1 or lactose prevented the effect of Gal-1, suggesting that the carbohydrate recognition domain is involved in inducing apoptosis. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism, based on Gal-1 and laminin-1 interaction, which could help us better understand the molecular basis of Leydig cell function and survival control.

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed; e-mail: miglesia{at}qb.ffyb.uba.ar


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
U. Jeschke, H. Walzel, I. Mylonas, P. Papadopoulos, N. Shabani, C. Kuhn, S. Schulze, K. Friese, U. Karsten, D. Anz, et al.
The Human Endometrium Expresses the Glycoprotein Mucin-1 and Shows Positive Correlation for Thomsen-Friedenreich Epitope Expression and Galectin-1 Binding
J. Histochem. Cytochem., September 1, 2009; 57(9): 871 - 881.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GlycobiologyHome page
S. Karmakar, S. R Stowell, R. D Cummings, and R. P McEver
Galectin-1 signaling in leukocytes requires expression of complex-type N-glycans
Glycobiology, October 1, 2008; 18(10): 770 - 778.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
R. Castilla, M. Gadaleta, A. F. Castillo, A. Duarte, I. Neuman, C. Paz, F. Cornejo Maciel, and E. J. Podesta
New Enzymes Involved in the Mechanism of Action of Epidermal Growth Factor in a Clonal Strain of Leydig Tumor Cells
Endocrinology, July 1, 2008; 149(7): 3743 - 3752.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Histochem. Cytochem.Home page
J. Nio and T. Iwanaga
Galectins in the Mouse Ovary: Concomitant Expression of Galectin-3 and Progesterone Degradation Enzyme (20{alpha}-HSD) in the Corpus Luteum
J. Histochem. Cytochem., May 1, 2007; 55(5): 423 - 432.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GlycobiologyHome page
I. Camby, M. Le Mercier, F. Lefranc, and R. Kiss
Galectin-1: a small protein with major functions
Glycobiology, November 1, 2006; 16(11): 137R - 157R.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GlycobiologyHome page
V. A. Biron, M. M. Iglesias, M. F. Troncoso, M. Besio-Moreno, Z. J. Patrignani, O. P. Pignataro, and C. Wolfenstein-Todel
Galectin-1: biphasic growth regulation of Leydig tumor cells
Glycobiology, September 1, 2006; 16(9): 810 - 821.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
A. Leppanen, S. Stowell, O. Blixt, and R. D. Cummings
Dimeric Galectin-1 Binds with High Affinity to {alpha}2,3-Sialylated and Non-sialylated Terminal N-Acetyllactosamine Units on Surface-bound Extended Glycans
J. Biol. Chem., February 18, 2005; 280(7): 5549 - 5562.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.