Endothelial Cell Morphogenesis and Angiogenesis Mediated by Carbohydrate-Binding Protein Galectin-3
Abstract
Based on our preliminary findings involving the recombinant galectin-3 and low, high and null galectin-3 expressing breast cancer cells, we hypothesized that galectin-3 is an angiogenic stimulator and plays an important role in the progression of breast carcinoma as an alternate signaling pathway for the carbohydrate recognition. The purpose of the present study is to determine if a) galectin-3 has a role in breast cancer progression and angiogenesis and b) if MOP is able to inhibit progression/metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer. Our results indicate that galectin-3 redistributed from luminal to basal epithelial cells during breast cancer progression and might play a role in the invasiveness of certain cancer cells by interacting with stromal cells. Using a novel 3- - dimensional in vitro co-culture system that permits growth and functional organization/differentiation of preneoplastic human breast epithelial cells and endothelial cells , we demonstrated that galectin-3 is an important mediator of epithelial-endothelial cell-cell interactions. Blocking galectin-3 expression by anti- sense transfection of galectin-3 in MDA-MB-435 cells resulted in loss of tumorigenic potential and transformed phenotype. Modified Citrus Pectin (MOP) is able%to reduce tumor size, microvessel density as well as metastatic potential of MDA-MB-435 cells injected in nude mice. Administration of MOP at a later time i.e. after removal of primary tumor did not inhibit metastasis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA421011
Entities
People
- Avraham Raz
- P. V. Shekhar
- Pratima Nangia-makker
Organizations
- Wayne State University