Galectins are b-galactoside-binding lectins related to cell adhesion, migration, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis, modulating metabolism and inflammation. Clinical research shows that high levels of circulating galectin-3 (gal-3) are closely linked to diabetes and its complications. Increased expression of gal-3 in pancreatic b-cells modulates glucose metabolism and glycoregulation in mice on a high-fat diet, affecting both fasting glycemic values and glycemia.
On the other hand, galectins are related to endocrine tumor-associated processes, including growth, adhesion, and survival of tumor cells. Thus, it is promising to consider galectins as biomarkers for disease and hopeful therapeutic targets, with possibilities in prevention and treatment. Also, the lack of gal-3 in mice was shown to disrupt thymus homeostasis, increasing local and systemic glucocorticoid levels, leading to signs of premature thymic involution. Considering the interactions of galectins with hormones modulating homeostatic state, it is essential to investigate their role in health and disease.
Our goal in this Research Topic is to investigate the interactions of galectins and hormones in modulating homeostasis in health and disease, including immunomodulation, metabolism, endocrine diseases, cancer, and aging. We are interested in original articles and reviews considering interactions of galectins and hormones in health and disease, including immunomodulation, homeostasis, metabolism, cancer, and aging, as well as work focusing on galectins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in endocrine diseases and malignancies.
Galectins are b-galactoside-binding lectins related to cell adhesion, migration, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis, modulating metabolism and inflammation. Clinical research shows that high levels of circulating galectin-3 (gal-3) are closely linked to diabetes and its complications. Increased expression of gal-3 in pancreatic b-cells modulates glucose metabolism and glycoregulation in mice on a high-fat diet, affecting both fasting glycemic values and glycemia.
On the other hand, galectins are related to endocrine tumor-associated processes, including growth, adhesion, and survival of tumor cells. Thus, it is promising to consider galectins as biomarkers for disease and hopeful therapeutic targets, with possibilities in prevention and treatment. Also, the lack of gal-3 in mice was shown to disrupt thymus homeostasis, increasing local and systemic glucocorticoid levels, leading to signs of premature thymic involution. Considering the interactions of galectins with hormones modulating homeostatic state, it is essential to investigate their role in health and disease.
Our goal in this Research Topic is to investigate the interactions of galectins and hormones in modulating homeostasis in health and disease, including immunomodulation, metabolism, endocrine diseases, cancer, and aging. We are interested in original articles and reviews considering interactions of galectins and hormones in health and disease, including immunomodulation, homeostasis, metabolism, cancer, and aging, as well as work focusing on galectins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in endocrine diseases and malignancies.