Artículos de revistas
Hierarchical and selective roles of galectins in hepatocarcinogenesis, liver fibrosis and inflammation of hepatocellular carcinoma
Fecha
2013-12Registro en:
Bacigalupo, Maria Lorena; Manzi, Malena; Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian; Troncoso, María Fernanda; Hierarchical and selective roles of galectins in hepatocarcinogenesis, liver fibrosis and inflammation of hepatocellular carcinoma; W J G Press; World Journal Of Gastroenterology; 19; 12-2013; 8831-8847
1007-9327
2219-2840
Autor
Bacigalupo, Maria Lorena
Manzi, Malena
Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian
Troncoso, María Fernanda
Resumen
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a global health problem. Infections with hepatitis B or C virus, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis disease, alcohol abuse, or dietary exposure to aflatoxin are the major risk factors to the development of this tumor. Regardless of the carcinogenic insult, HCC usually develops in a context of cirrhosis due to chronic inflammation and advanced fibrosis. Galectins are a family of evolutionarily-conserved proteins defined by at least one carbohydrate recognition domain with affinity for β-galactosides and conserved sequence motifs. Here, we summarize the current literature implicating galectins in the pathogenesis of HCC. Expression of ?proto-type? galectin-1, ?chimera- type? galectin-3 and ?tandem repeat-type? galectin- 4 is up-regulated in HCC cells compared to their normal counterparts. On the other hand, the ?tandemrepeat- type? lectins galectin-8 and galectin-9 are downregulated in tumor hepatocytes. The abnormal expression of these galectins correlates with tumor growth, HCC cell migration and invasion, tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis. Moreover, these galectins have important roles in other pathological conditions of the liver, where chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis take place. Galectin-based therapies have been proposed to attenuate liver pathologies. Further functional studies are required to delineate the precise molecular mechanisms through which galectins contribute to HCC.