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Apoptosis of T cells mediated by galectin-1

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Abstract

GALECTIN-1, a member of the family of β-galactoside binding proteins1, has growth regulatory and immunomodulatory activities2–4. We report here that galectin-1, expressed by stromal cells in human thymus and lymph nodes5,6, is present at sites of cell death by apoptosis during normal T-cell development and maturation. Galectin-1 induced apoptosis of activated human T cells and human T leukaemia cell lines. Resting T cells also bound galectin-1, but did not undergo apoptosis. Human endothelial cells that expressed galectin-1 induced apoptosis of bound T cells. Galectin-1-induced apoptosis required expression of CD45, and was decreased when N-glycan elongation was blocked by treatment of the cells by swainsonine7, whereas inhibition of O-glycan elongation8 potentiated the apoptotic effect of galectin-1. Induction of apoptosis by an endogenous mammalian lectin represents a new mechanism for regulating the immune response.

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Author notes

  1. Jeffrey J. Seilhamer: Incyte Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3174 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA

  2. Linda G. Baum: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1732, USA

    Nancy L. Perillo, Karen E. Pace, Jeffrey J. Seilhamer & Linda G. Baum

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  1. Nancy L. Perillo
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  2. Karen E. Pace
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  3. Jeffrey J. Seilhamer
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  4. Linda G. Baum
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Perillo, N., Pace, K., Seilhamer, J. et al. Apoptosis of T cells mediated by galectin-1. Nature 378, 736–739 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/378736a0

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