Galectin fingerprinting by immuno- and lectin histochemistry in cutaneous lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Vol. 128; no. 2; pp. 103 - 110
• Main Authors: WOLLINA, U, GRAEFE, T, FELDRAPPE, S, ANDRE, S, WASANO, K, KALTNER, H, ZICK, Y, GABIUS, H.-J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.02.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Antibodies; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Binding Sites; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Cell Adhesion - physiology; Cell Division; Chemotherapy; Doxorubicin - pharmacology; Female; Galectins; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Hemagglutinins - biosynthesis; Hemagglutinins - chemistry; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Ligands; Liposomes; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - drug therapy; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Peptide Mapping; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; T cell receptors; Tumors; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Lectin; Skin disease; Gene product; Tumoral tissue; Liposome; Malignant hemopathy; Gene expression; Doxorubicin; Galectin; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; T-Lymphocyte; Malignant lymphoma; Anthracyclins; Skin
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-001-0304-3

Owing to their relevance for growth regulation and cell adhesion monitoring the expression of galectins (endogenous beta-galactoside-binding lectins) and their binding sites has relevance for tumor biology. Using galectin-type-specific reagents (non-crossreactive antibodies for proto-type galectin-1, chimera-type galectin-3 and tandem-repeat-type galectins-4 and -8, and labeled galectins-1, -3, and -4) we determined galectin expression in cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL) and controls. In addition to commonly studied galectins-1 and -3, tandem-repeat-type galectins could be detected, i.e., galectin-8 in six from 15 cases and galectin-4 in one of 15 cases. In view of relevant ligands such as bcl-2 or integrins the presence of galectins-3 and -8 seems to be possibly related to loss of proliferation control and change in cell adhesion properties that are involved in clonal expansion and epidermal spread of malignant T cell clones. Successful chemotherapy of CTCL alters galectin expression selectively as shown for liposomal doxorubicin.