Galectins are a family of soluble b-galactoside-binding animal lectins that modulate cell-to-cell adhesion and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) inter- actions and play a role in tumor progression, pre-mRNA splicing and apop-tosis. The galectin-3 protein, also known as Mac-2, hMac-2, GALBP, CBP35 or LGALS3, contains a single carbohydrate binding domain, which binds galactose-containing glycoconjugates. Galectin-3 is expressed in colonic and intestinal epithelium, inflammatory macrophages, papillary and follicular carcinomas, neoplastic astrocytes and some B and T lymphocytes. Upregulated expression of galectin-3 is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Galectin-3 mediates the endocytosis of β1 Integrins in a lactose-dependent manner and is associated with thyroid malignancy and Crohn's disease. It may also be used as a marker for diagnosing cases involving Hurthle cell adenomas and carcinomas.
