Glycobiology Insights

Galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that share a consensus sequence in the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Galectin-3 is the most widely studied family member and can be found in the cellular cytoplasm and nucleus, as well as extracellularly in various tissues. The 30-kDa molecule contains an N-terminal proline-rich domain that is important for its oligomerization and a C-terminal CRD for carbohydrate-binding activity. Many studies have shown that galectin-3 may regulate inflammation through a variety of mechanisms. Endogenous galectin-3 has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as fibrosis in the lung, liver, and heart, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and allergic diseases. In this review, we briefly discuss the pro- or anti-inflammatory roles, as well as potential clinical implications of galectin-3 in these disorders.