Immunomodulatory effects of galectin-1 on an IgE-mediated allergic conjunctivitis model

• Grant number: 15/01285-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Damas Gil
• Grantee: Cristiane Damas Gil
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

PURPOSE. Galectin (Gal)-1, a lectin found at sites of immune privilege with critical role in the inflammation, has been poorly investigated in the ocular inflammatory diseases. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potencial of Gal-1 in ocular allergy using a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AC. METHODS. OVA-immunised BALB/c male mice were challenged with eye drops containing OVA on days 14-16 with a subset of animals pretreated intraperitoneally with recombinant Gal-1 (rGal-1) or dexamethasone (Dex). RESULTS. rGal-1 and Dex administration on days 14-16 was effective in reducing the clinical signs of allergic conjunctivitis (AC), plasma anti-OVA IgE levels, Th2 (IL-4 and IL-13) and eotaxin/RANTES levels in the lymph nodes. Four hours after the last OVA challenge, rGal-1 markedly increased Gal-1 endogenous levels in the conjunctiva and provoked eosinophilia, which persisted at 24h. rGal-1 had no effect on eosinophil activation, as evidenced by the similar pattern of peroxidase eosinophil expression between cells of rGal-1-treated and untreated AC groups. Conjunctival migrated eosinophils and neutrophils exhibited high levels of Gal-1 and ²2-integrin, with points of co-localisation, in the rGal-1-treated groups. These different effects observed for rGal-1 were correlated with elevated levels of activated ERK and p38 at 4h, and diminished levels of activated JNK and p38 at 24h in the eyes. CONCLUSION. Gal-1 has an important role in ocular allergic inflammation and represents a potential target for the development of new therapeutic strategies in eye diseases. (AU)