Galectin-8 promotes regulatory T-cell differentiation by modulating IL-2 and TGFβ signaling

Galectins (Gals) have emerged as potent immunoregulatory molecules that control chronic inflammation through distinct mechanisms. Gal-8, a tandem-repeat type Gal with unique preference for α2,3-sialylated glycans, is ubiquitously expressed, but little is known about its role in T-cell differentiatio...

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Autores principales: Sampson, J.F., Suryawanshi, A., Chen, W.-S., Rabinovich, G.A., Panjwani, N.
Formato: JOUR
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Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_08189641_v94_n2_p213_Sampson
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Sumario:Galectins (Gals) have emerged as potent immunoregulatory molecules that control chronic inflammation through distinct mechanisms. Gal-8, a tandem-repeat type Gal with unique preference for α2,3-sialylated glycans, is ubiquitously expressed, but little is known about its role in T-cell differentiation. Here we report that Gal-8 promotes the polyclonal differentiation of primary mouse regulatory T (Treg) cells in vitro. We further show that Gal-8 also facilitates antigen-specific differentiation of Treg cells, and that Treg cells polarized in the presence of Gal-8 express cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and interleukin (IL)-10 at a higher frequency than control Treg cells, and efficiently inhibit proliferation of activated T-cells in vitro. Investigation of the mechanism by which Gal-8 promotes Treg conversion revealed that Gal-8 activates transforming growth factor-β signaling and promotes sustained IL-2R signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that Gal-8 promotes the differentiation of highly suppressive Treg cells, which has implications for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. © 2016 Australasian Society for Immunology Inc.