The chimera-type galectin-3 is a positive modulator of trophoblast functions with dysregulated expression in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

PROBLEM:

From conception, a delicate regulation of galectins, a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins, is established to ensure maternal immune tolerance in pregnancy. Though galectin-3 (gal-3), the only chimera-type galectin, is abundantly expressed at the feto-maternal interface; the physiological role of this lectin during pregnancy remains to be fully elucidated and requires further investigation.

METHOD OF STUDY:

In this study, we analyzed serum gal-3 levels during the course of healthy gestation. Trophoblast functions were evaluated upon gal-3 exogenous stimulation using trophoblastic cell lines (e.g. , HIPEC65, SGHPL-4, and BeWo cells). Finally, we investigated variations in peripheral gal-3 levels associated with the development of spontaneous abortion and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

RESULTS:

Gal-3 circulating levels increased as normal pregnancy progressed. In vitro experiments showed that exogenous gal-3 positively regulated trophoblast functions inducing invasion, tube formation, and fusion. Compared with normal pregnant women, circulating gal-3 levels were significantly decreased in patients who developed GDM.

CONCLUSION:

Our results reveal a physiological role for gal-3 during pregnancy, promoting proper trophoblast functions associated with healthy gestation. GDM is associated with a failure to increase circulating gal-3 levels late in gestation. Thus, dysregulation of gal-3 may indicate a contribution of the chimera-type lectin to this adverse pregnancy outcome.

• Authors: Nancy Freitag, Irene Tirado-González, Gabriela Barrientos, Marie Cohen, Silvia Daher, Debra Goldman-Wohl, Lucia Mincheva-Nilsson, Constance M John, Udo Jeschke, Sandra M Blois
• Journal: American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) (Am J Reprod Immunol) Vol. 84 Issue 6 Pg. e13311 (12 2020) ISSN: 1600-0897 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 32691950 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Galectin 3

Topics

• Abortion, Spontaneous (metabolism)
• Cell Line
• Diabetes, Gestational (metabolism)
• Female
• Galectin 3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Immune Tolerance
• Placental Circulation
• Pregnancy (metabolism)
• Trophoblasts (metabolism, pathology)