Galectin-1 promotes gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis through peritoneal fibrosis

• Published in: BMC cancer 2023-06, Vol.23 (1), p.559-559, Article 559
• Main Authors: Shen, Xianhe, Liu, Huilan, Zhou, Haihua, Cheng, Zhiyi, Liu, Guiyuan, Huang, Chuanjiang, Dou, Rongrong, Liu, Fuxing, You, Xiaolan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animal models; Animals; Antibodies; Cancer; Cancer-associated fibroblast; Cell adhesion; Collagen; Collagen (type I); Collagen (type III); Complications and side effects; Cytokines; Development and progression; Fibroblasts; Fibronectin; Fibronectins; Fibrosis; Galectin 1 - genetics; Galectin-1; Gastric cancer; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gene expression; Health aspects; Humans; Lectins; Mesenchyme; Metastases; Metastasis; Mortality; Peritoneal fibrosis; Peritoneal Fibrosis - genetics; Peritoneal Fibrosis - metabolism; Peritoneal metastasis; Peritoneal Neoplasms - secondary; Peritoneum; Peritoneum - pathology; Proteins; Reverse transcription; RNA; Stem cells; Stomach cancer; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors; Western blotting
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11047-2

Peritoneal metastasis is one of the main causes of death in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Galectin-1 regulates various undesirable biological behaviors in GC and may be key in GC peritoneal metastasis. In this study, we elucidated the regulatory role of galectin-1 in GC cell peritoneal metastasis. GC and peritoneal tissues underwent hematoxylin-eosin (HE), immunohistochemical (IHC), and Masson trichrome staining to analyze the difference in galectin-1 expression and peritoneal collagen deposition in different GC clinical stages. The regulatory role of galectin-1 in GC cell adhesion to mesenchymal cells and in collagen expression was determined using HMrSV5 human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). Collagen and corresponding mRNA expression were detected with western blotting and reverse transcription PCR, respectively. The promoting effect of galectin-1 on GC peritoneal metastasis was verified in vivo. Collagen deposition and collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin 1 (FN1) expression in the peritoneum of the animal models were detected by Masson trichrome and IHC staining. Galectin-1 and collagen deposition in the peritoneal tissues was correlated with GC clinical staging and were positively correlated. Galectin-1 enhanced the ability of GC cells to adhere to the HMrSV5 cells by promoting collagen I, collagen III, and FN1 expression. The in vivo experiments confirmed that galectin-1 promoted GC peritoneal metastasis by promoting peritoneal collagen deposition. Galectin-1-induced peritoneal fibrosis may create a favorable environment for GC cell peritoneal metastasis.