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Chimeric galectin-3 and collagens: Biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in fibroproliferative diseases.
- Source :
-
Journal of Biological Chemistry . Dec2022, Vol. 298 Issue 12, p1-13. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Fibrosis, stiffening and scarring of an organ/tissue due to genetic abnormalities, environmental factors, infection, and/or injury, is responsible for > 40% of all deaths in the industri-alized world, and to date, there is no cure for it despite extensive research and numerous clinical trials. Several bio-markers have been identified, but no effective therapeutic targets are available. Human galectin-3 is a chimeric gene product formed by the fusion of the internal domain of the collagen alpha gene [N-terminal domain (ND)] at the 5'-end of galectin-1 [C-terminal domain (CRD)] that appeared during evolution together with vertebrates. Due to the overlapping structural similarities between collagen and galectin-3 and their shared susceptibility to cleavage by matrix metal-loproteases to generate circulating collagen-like peptides, this review will discuss present knowledge on the role of collagen and galectin-3 as biomarkers of fibrosis. We will also highlight the need for transformative approaches targeting both the ND and CRD domains of galectin-3, since glycoconjugate binding by the CRD is triggered by ND-mediated oligomerization and the therapies targeted only at the CRD have so far achieved limited success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00219258
- Volume :
- 298
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Biological Chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 161106843
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102622