Members of the galectin family of endogenous lectins are potent adhesion/growth-regulatory effectors. Their multifunctionality opens possibilities for their use in bioapplications. We studied whether human galectins induce the conversion of human dermal fibroblasts into myofibroblasts (MFBs) and the production of a bioactive extracellular matrix scaffold is suitable for cell culture. Testing a panel of galectins of all three subgroups, including natural and engineered variants, we detected activity for the proto-type galectin-1 and galectin-7, the chimera-type galectin-3 and the tandem-repeat-type galectin-4. The activity of galectin-1 required the integrity of the carbohydrate recognition domain. It was independent of the presence of TGF-β1, but it yielded an additive effect. The resulting MFBs, relevant, for example, for tumor progression, generated a matrix scaffold rich in fibronectin and galectin-1 that supported keratinocyte culture without feeder cells. Of note, keratinocytes cultured on this substratum presented a stem-like cell phenotype with small size and keratin-19 expression. In vivo in rats, galectin-1 had a positive effect on skin wound closure 21 days after surgery. In conclusion, we describe the differential potential of certain human galectins to induce the conversion of dermal fibroblasts into MFBs and the generation of a bioactive cell culture substratum.

Institute of Anatomy 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org

Wound healing: insights into autoimmunity, ageing, and cancer ecosystems through inflammation and IL-6 modulation

Autoimmunity, cancer and COVID-19 abnormally activate wound healing pathways: critical role of inflammation

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Influence the Biological Properties of Malignant Tumours via Paracrine Secretion and Exosome Production

IL-6 in the Ecosystem of Head and Neck Cancer: Possible Therapeutic Perspectives

Human galectin‑3: Molecular switch of gene expression in dermal fibroblasts in vitro and of skin collagen organization in open wounds and tensile strength in incisions in vivo

Interleukin-6: Molecule in the Intersection of Cancer, Ageing and COVID-19

The Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Microenvironment as a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy

Microenvironment‑driven resistance to B‑Raf inhibition in a melanoma patient is accompanied by broad changes of gene methylation and expression in distal fibroblasts

Analysis of dermal fibroblasts isolated from neonatal and child cleft lip and adult skin: Developmental implications on reconstructive surgery

How Signaling Molecules Regulate Tumor Microenvironment: Parallels to Wound Repair

Intercellular crosstalk in human malignant melanoma

Functional differences between neonatal and adult fibroblasts and keratinocytes: Donor age affects epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk in vitro

Pharmacological activation of estrogen receptors-α and -β differentially modulates keratinocyte differentiation with functional impact on wound healing

Cancer Microenvironment: What Can We Learn from the Stem Cell Niche

Effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts on the migration of glioma cells in vitro

Soy and breast cancer: focus on angiogenesis

Cancer-associated fibroblasts are not formed from cancer cells by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in nu/nu mice