Binding of Galectin-1 to Neutrophils Enhanced by Activation

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils undergo diaphoresis after a selectin-mediated rolling on the endothelial cells of the blood vessel wall. Extravasation is believed to be an integrin-mediated process. Galectin-1 is a small dimeric beta-galactoside-binding protein synthesized by the endotherial cells and present in the perivascular connective tissue. In this study we suggest the possible role of galectin-1 in extravasation of the activated neutrophils. MAL lectin binding study showed, that f-MetLeuPhe-activated neutrophils decrease surface sialylation and increase galectin-1 binding via exposure of new galectin-1 binding sites. Desialylated HL-60 cells also show the same decrease in MAL binding and increase in galectin-1 binding, an increase which was not observed in the presence of lactose. Galectin-1 blotting analysis detected two possible major ligands (approximately 120 and 160 kDa) of galectin-1 from the desialylated HL-60 cell lysates.