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Galectin-3: Cellular Distribution and Correlation with WHO-grade in Human Gliomas

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Abstract

In order to elucidate the reason for conflicting results that have been published previously on galectin-3 expression in human gliomas, we used single labeling and double labeling immunohistochemistry experiments to identify cellular origin and extent of galectin-3 positivity in 53 glioma-samples (16 glioblastomas, 21 anaplastic astrocytomas, 16 low-grade astrocytomas). Galectin-3 positivity was observed in neoplastic astrocytes, macrophages/microglial cells, endothelial cells and some B- and T-lymphocytes. The quantitative analysis showed that the percentage of galectin-3 positive cells was significantly higher in the tumor parenchyma of glioblastomas than in anaplastic (p = 0.0371) and low-grade astrocytomas (p = 0.0042). Single labeling with anti-CD68 antibodies revealed a significant correlation between CD68 and galectin-3 immunoreactivity (p = 0.0092). Endothelial cells were labeled in all low-grade and anaplastic astrocytomas, but only in 10/16 glioblastomas (p = 0.0003). This detailed analysis demonstrates that galectin-3 positivity in human gliomas is considerably influenced by tumor-infiltrating macrophages. The differential expression on endothelial cells raises the question if galectin-3 plays a role in tumor angiogenesis of human gliomas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Brain Research, Medical School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Herwig M. Strik, Martin H. Deininger, Brigitte Frank, Herrmann J. Schluesener & Richard Meyermann

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  1. Herwig M. Strik
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  2. Martin H. Deininger
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  3. Brigitte Frank
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  4. Herrmann J. Schluesener
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  5. Richard Meyermann
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Strik, H.M., Deininger, M.H., Frank, B. et al. Galectin-3: Cellular Distribution and Correlation with WHO-grade in Human Gliomas. J Neurooncol 53, 13–20 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011874800612

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