Objective To observe the expression of Galectin-3 and Galectin-1 in pancreatic cancer and explore the relationship between the expression and pathological grading. Methods Forty specimens of pancreatic carcinoma tissue and thirty-one specimens of normal pancreas tissue were selected, which were confirmed by surgical resection and pathology from 2002 to 2009. The expression of Galectin-3 mRNA and Galectin-1 mRNA in pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990, PANC-1 and ASPC -1 was detected by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; the expression of Galectin-3 protein and Galectin-1 protein in SW1990, PANC-1 and ASPC-1 was detected by means of immunocytochemistry; the expression of Galectin-3 protein and Galectin-1 protein in pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissue was detected by means of immunohistochemistry. Results In SW1990, PANC-1 and ASPC-1, Galectin-3 mRNA signal and protein were detected, but no Galectin-1 mRNA signal or protein was detected. There was no expression of Galectin-3 protein or Galectin-1 protein in the 31 specimens of normal pancrease tissue, while there were Galectin-3 protein and Galectin-1 protein expressed in the 40 specimens of pancreatic cancer tissue. In the 40 specimens of pancreatic cancer tissue, the expression of Galectin-3 protein was observed in pancreatic cancer cells, but not in fibroblasts or matrix cells around the cancer mass; while the expression of Galectin-1 protein was observed in fibroblasts and matrix cells around the cancer mass, but not observed in pancreatic cancer cells. There was no significant association between the expression of Galectin-3 protein in pancreatic cancer and pathological grading (P>0.05); while the expression of Galectin-1 protein in pancreatic cancer was related to the pathological grading, and the expression of Galectin-1 protein was significant higher in poorly differentiated tumors than that in well/moderately differentiated tumors (P<0.05). Conclusions Galectin-3 or Galectin-1 is not expressed in normal pancreases; Galectin-3 is expressed in pancreatic cancer cells; Galectin-1 is expressed in fibroblasts and matrix cells around the cancer mass. The expression of Galectin-1 is related with the differentiation of pancreatic cancer.
ObjectiveTo study immunodepression effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) on acute asthmatic airway inflammation by galectin-1 (gal-1) in vivo.MethodsEighty-five female BALB/c mice were equally randomized into normal control group, asthmatic group, BMSC treatment group, gal-1 treatment group and BMSC and gal-1 inhibitor group. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to establish acute asthmatic model. Total cell number and differential cell analysis in each group in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Furthermore, hematoxylin-eosin and periodic-acid Schiff staining was used to compare airway inflammation among five groups. Measurement of cytokines, including interleukin (IL) -4, IL-5 and gal-1 in BALF and OVA specific IgE (OVA-IgE) in serum were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, dendritic cell (DC) in lung tissue was sorted by immunomagnetic beads and its MAPK signal pathway was analyzed by western blotting among five groups.ResultsAccumulation of inflammation cells, particularly eosinophils around airway and in BALF was evident in asthmatic mouse model, meanwhile hyperplasia of Goblet cell was also obvious in asthmatic group. BMSC engraftment or gal-1 infusion significantly reduced airway inflammation and hyperplasia of Goblet cell and the number of inflammation cells in BALF, especially eosinophils attenuated dramatically. However, there was no effect on airway inflammation and hyperplasia of Goblet Cell by simultaneous infusion BMSC engraftment and gal-1 inhibitor. Compared to normal control group, the level of IL-4, IL-5 in BALF and OVA-IgE in serum was increased remarkably in asthmatic group, but the level of gal-1 reduced obviously. Moreover, infusion of BMSC or gal-1 could mitigate the level of IL-4, IL-5 in BALF and OVA-IgE in serum and increase the level of gal-1 in asthmatic mouse. However, infusion with both BMSC and gal-1 inhibitor exerted no effect on cytokine and OVA-IgE in asthmatic mouse. DC was sorted by immunomagnetic beads and western blotting was used to detect the expression of MAPK signal pathway among five groups. The expression of ERK phosphorylation in asthmatic group was much lower than that in normal control group. On the contrary, the expression of p38 phosphorylation was much higher than that in normal control group. BMSC engraftment or gal-1 infusion significantly activated the ERK pathway and inhibited the p38 MARP pathway on asthmatic mouse DC. Nevertheless, the expression of ERK phosphorylation and p38 phosphorylation for group with BMSC and gal-1 inhibitor infusion was between the level of asthmatic group and normal control group.ConclusionsBMSC infusion alleviates airway inflammation in asthmatic mouse, especially weakens eosinophils infiltration, and the underlying mechanism might be protective effect of gal-1 secreted by BMSC which plays a role in lung tissue DC and regulates the DC expression of MAPK signal pathway.