Regulation of Cellular Adhesion to Extracellular Matrix Proteins by Galectin-3

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1998-05, Vol.246 (3), p.788-791
• Main Authors: Ochieng, Josiah, Leite-Browning, Maria L., Warfield, Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Differentiation - pharmacology; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Collagen - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Female; Fibronectins - metabolism; Galectin 3; Humans; Integrin alpha1beta1; Integrins - metabolism; Laminin - metabolism; Male; Mice; Protein Binding; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0006-291X
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8708

The control of cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins is poorly understood. In the present analyses, we set out to test the hypothesis that high galectin-3 concentration on the cell surface downregulates cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix proteins. Various tumor cell lines were briefly incubated without or with galectin-3 and then allowed to adhere to wells coated with laminin-1, collagen IV and fibronectin. Our data demonstrated that the cells which were incubated with galectin-3 prior to plating had significantly reduced adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. This inhibition involved the carbohydrate recognition domain of the lectin because adhesion was achieved in the presence of galectin-3 and lactose but not galectin-3 and sucrose. Furthermore we demonstrated that galectin-3 associates with α1β1 integrin in a lactose dependent manner.