Degeneration of dystrophic or injured skeletal muscles induces high expression of Galectin-1

Author(s)

Cerri, Daniel G. ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Lilian C. ^[2] ; Stowell, Sean R. ^{[3, 4]} ; Araujo, Daniela D. ^{[1, 5]} ; Coelho, Mariana C. ^[1] ; Oliveira, Sibere R. ^[1] ; Bizario, Joao C. S. ^[1] ; Cummings, Richard D. ^{[3, 4]} ; Dias-Baruffi, Marcelo ^[2] ; Costa, Maria Cristina R. ^{[1, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Ribeirao Preto, Sch Med, UNAERP, Muscular Dystrophy Res Ctr, AADM, BR-14096900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dep Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Emory Univ, Sch Med, Dept Biochem, Atlanta, GA 30322 - USA

^[4] Univ Oklahoma, Hlth Sci Ctr, Oklahoma Ctr Med Glycobiol, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - USA

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Cellular & Mol Biol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GLYCOBIOLOGY; v. 18, n. 11, p. 842-850, NOV 2008.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

Muscle degenerative diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are incurable and treatment options are still restrained. Understanding the mechanisms and factors responsible for muscle degeneration and regeneration will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics. Several recent studies have demonstrated that Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a carbohydrate-binding protein, induces myoblast differentiation and fusion in vitro, suggesting a potential role for this mammalian lectin in muscle regenerative processes in vivo. However, the expression and localization of Gal-1 in vivo during muscle injury and repair are unclear. We report the expression and localization of Gal-1 during degenerative-regenerative processes in vivo using two models of muscular dystrophy and muscle injury. Gal-1 expression increased significantly during muscle degeneration in the murine mdx and in the canine Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy animal models. Compulsory exercise of mdx mouse, which intensifies degeneration, also resulted in sustained Gal-1 levels. Furthermore, muscle injury of wild-type C57BL/6 mice, induced by BaCl(2) treatment, also resulted in a marked increase in Gal-1 levels. Increased Gal-1 levels appeared to localize both inside and outside the muscle fibers with significant extracellular Gal-1 colocalized with infiltrating CD45(+) leukocytes. By contrast, regenerating muscle tissue showed a marked decrease in Gal-1 to baseline levels. These results demonstrate significant regulation of Gal-1 expression in vivo and suggest a potential role for Gal-1 in muscle homeostasis and repair. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/02452-0 - Comparative analysis of galectin-1 expression and cellular localization in skeletal muscle of mdx and normal mice submitted to physical exercise
• Grantee: Mariana Corrêa Coelho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 05/02464-8 - Analysis of galectin-1 expression and cellular localization in mdx mice skeletal muscle during the first cycle of muscle degeneration
• Grantee: Sibere Resende Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation