Figure 1.

Galectin-3 osteogenic activities in bone and vascular tissue. Galectin-3 is considered a marker of chondrogenic and osteogenic cell lineages and is up-regulated in conjunction with other osteogenic markers during differentiation of bone cells. Consistent with a role in bone physiology, galectin-3 deficiency affects endochondral ossification and bone remodeling. Galectin-3 is also critical for maintaining proper extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and, possibly, bone competence. Being also expressed by osteocytes, it is possible to hypothesize its participation in the regulation of mechanosensory function of these cells and promotion of bone modeling and remodeling also through this mechanism. Finally, galectin-3 activity is central for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) transdifferentiation into an osteoblast-like phenotype and vascular osteogenesis. EVs = extracellular vesicles; MSCs = mesenchymal stem cells.