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. 2008 Oct 10;14(1):128–138. doi: 10.2478/s11658-008-0039-0

Galectin-1 expression in innervated and denervated skeletal muscle

Anna Svensson 1,✉, Sven Tågerud 1
PMCID: PMC6275605  PMID: 18850073

Abstract

Galectin-1 is a soluble carbohydrate-binding protein with a particularly high expression in skeletal muscle. Galectin-1 has been implicated in skeletal muscle development and in adult muscle regeneration, but also in the degeneration of neuronal processes and/or in peripheral nerve regeneration. Exogenously supplied oxidized galectin-1, which lacks carbohydrate-binding properties, has been shown to promote neurite outgrowth after sciatic nerve sectioning. In this study, we compared the expression of galectin-1 mRNA and immunoreactivity in innervated and denervated mouse and rat hind-limb and hemidiaphragm muscles. The results show that galectin-1 mRNA expression and immunoreactivity are up-regulated following denervation. The galectin-1 mRNA is expressed in the extrasynaptic and perisynaptic regions of the muscle, and its immunoreactivity can be detected in both regions by Western blot analysis. The results are compatible with a role for galectin-1 in facilitating reinnervation of denervated skeletal muscle.

Key words: Galectin-1, Skeletal muscle, Denervation

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Abbreviations used

Gal1

galectin-1

Inn

innervated

Den

denervated

PS

perisynaptic

ES

extrasynaptic

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