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. 2022 Dec 22;15(1):52. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010052

Table 1.

Studies describing the effects of galectin-3 on the immune system in the context of ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.

Disease Model Immune Cell Type Investigated Endpoints Major Findings Reference
UC Human
(10 patients)		 Colonic macrophages ↑Gal-3 expression Attenuation of acute colitis [47]
PBMCs ↑Gal-3 secretion
Mice
(DSS-
induced acute colitis)		 ↓ Macrophages in colon Gal-3 blocking (Gal-3−/− ko mice or pharmacological inhibition):
↓NLRP3 inflammasome
↓inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α)
↑IL-10 producing M2 phenotype
↓DCs in colon
↓ Neutrophils in colon
UC Mice
(DSS-
induced acute colitis)		 Colonic macrophages Gal-3 blocking in MSC (pharmacological inhibition):
↑ immunosuppressive M2 phenotype
↑IL-10 		Attenuation of severity of colitis [91]
UC Mice
(DSS-
induced colitis)		 T cells Gal-3 blocking (Gal-3−/− ko mice):
↑ severe disease activity
Recombinant Gal-3:
↑ Treg cell phenotype (FOXP3, ICOS, and PD-1 positive)
Adoptive transfer of Gal-3 treated T cell:
↓Inhibition of colonic mucosa inflammation 		Reduction of disease severity by inducing Treg [92]
UC Mice
(DSS-
induced colitis)		 Mesenteric lymphnodes
  • -

    Attenuation of acute colitis

  • -

    Reduction of coloninflammation

 [93]
UC Mice
(DSS-
induced colitis)		 Macrophages Gal-3 blocking (Gal-3−/− ko mice):
↓ IL-1-, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12-producing M1 phenotype
↑ IL-10-, IL-4, and TGF-β- producing M2 phenotype		 Reduction of colon inflammation [46]
DCs Gal-3 blocking in DCs (pharmacological inhibition):
↑ DCs immunosuppressive function
T cells ↑ colon-infiltrated Tregs
↑pro-inflammatory Th1/Th17 phenotype
CRC In vitro, colon cancer cell lines from CRC patients T cells Recombinant Gal-3:
↓ tumor-reactive T cells
↑ cell apoptosis		 Promotion of tumor immune tolerance [94]
CRC Mice
(Gal-3−/− ko)		 ↓ Macrophages in colon ↑IL-6, KC
  • -

    Delayed immune cell infiltration into the gut mucosa

  • -

    Delayed clearance of pathogens

 [95]
↓ DCs in colon
↓ T cells in colon
= Neutrophils in colon
CRC Human
(50 patients)		 PBMCs ↑Gal-3 secretion
↑ IL-17 and IL-10
↓ IL-12
↑inflammatory parameters (NLR, WBC, CRP)
↓limphocytestimulation
  • -

    Th2-dominant conditions

  • -

    Inhibition of cell-mediated immunity

 [96]
CRC In vitro, colon cancer cell lines
(HT29, LS180, SW948, SW620)		 Monocytes
(THP1 cells)		 ↑Gal-3 and IDO induction by tumor CM Induction of immune suppressive macrophages [97]

Abbreviations: CM, conditioned medium; CRC, colorectal cancer; CRP, C-reactive protein; DCs, dendritic cells; DSS, dextran sulphate sodium; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; IDO, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; KC, keratinocyte-derived chemokine; ko, knock out; NLR, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; siRNA, short interfering RNA; Treg, regulatory T cells; UC, ulcerative colitis; WBC, white blood cell count.