Galectin-7 |
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Authors: | S Saussez R Kiss |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Histology, and Laboratory of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut (UMH), Mons, Belgium;(2) Laboratory of Toxicology – Institute of Pharmacy, Free University of Brussels (ULB), Campus de la Plaine – Boulevard du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Galectins are a family of animal lectins with an affinity for β-galactosides. They are differentially expressed by various
tissues and appear to be functionally multivalent, exerting a wide range of biological activities both during development
and in adult tissue. Galectin-7, a member of this family, contributes to different events associated with the differentiation
and development of pluristratified epithelia. It is also associated with epithelial cell migration, which plays a crucial
role in the re-epithelialization process of corneal or epidermal wounds. In addition, recent evidence indicates that galectin-7,
designated as the product of the p53-induced gene 1 (PIG1), is a regulator of apoptosis through JNK activation and mitochondrial
cytochrome c release. Defects in apoptosis constitute one of the major hallmarks of human cancers, and galectin-7 can act
as either a positive or a negative regulatory factor in tumour development, depending on the histological type of the tumour.
Received 30 October 2005; received after revision 15 November 2005; accepted 25 November 2005 |
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Keywords: | Galectin-7 epithelium migration apoptosis carcinogenesis |
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