A primate subfamily of galectins expressed at the maternal-fetal interface that promote immune cell death.

Galectins are proteins that regulate immune responses through the recognition of cell-surface glycans. We present evidence that 16 human galectin genes are expressed at the maternal-fetal interface and demonstrate that a cluster of 5 galectin genes on human chromosome 19 emerged during primate evolution as a result of duplication and rearrangement of genes and pseudogenes via a birth and death process primarily mediated by transposable long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs). Genes in the cluster are found only in anthropoids, a group of primate species that differ from their strepsirrhine counterparts by having relatively large brains and long gestations. Three of the human cluster genes (LGALS13, -14, and -16) were found to be placenta-specific. Homology modeling revealed conserved three-dimensional structures of galectins in the human cluster; however, analyses of 24 newly derived and 69 publicly available sequences in 10 anthropoid species indicate functional diversification by evidence of positive selection and amino acid replacements in carbohydrate-recognition domains. Moreover, we demonstrate altered sugar-binding capacities of 6 recombinant galectins in the cluster. We show that human placenta-specific galectins are predominantly expressed by the syncytiotrophoblast, a primary site of metabolic exchange where, early during pregnancy, the fetus comes in contact with immune cells circulating in maternal blood. Because ex vivo functional assays demonstrate that placenta-specific galectins induce the apoptosis of T lymphocytes, we propose that these galectins reduce the danger of maternal immune attacks on the fetal semiallograft, presumably conferring additional immune tolerance mechanisms and in turn sustaining hemochorial placentation during the long gestation of anthropoid primates.

Functional analyses of placental protein 13/galectin-13.

Placental protein 13 (PP13) was cloned from human term placenta. As sequence analyses, alignments and computational modelling showed its conserved structural and functional homology to members of the galectin family, the protein was designated galectin-13. Similar to human eosinophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein/galectin-10 but not other galectins, its weak lysophospholipase activity was confirmed by 31P-NMR. In this study, recombinant PP13/galectin-13 was expressed and specific monoclonal antibody to PP13 was developed. Endogenous lysophospholipase activity of both the purified and also the recombinant protein was verified. Sugar binding assays revealed that N-acetyl-lactosamine, mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine residues widely expressed in human placenta had the strongest binding affinity to both the purified and recombinant PP13/galectin-13, which also effectively agglutinated erythrocytes. The protein was found to be a homodimer of 16 kDa subunits linked together by disulphide bonds, a phenomenon differing from the noncovalent dimerization of previously known prototype galectins. Furthermore, reducing agents were shown to decrease its sugar binding activity and abolish its haemagglutination. Phosphorylation sites were computed on PP13/galectin-13, and phosphorylation of the purified protein was confirmed. Using affinity chromatography, PAGE, MALDI-TOF MS and post source decay, annexin II and beta/gamma actin were identified as proteins specifically bound to PP13/galectin-13 in placenta and fetal hepatic cells. Perinuclear staining of the syncytiotrophoblasts showed its expression in these cells, while strong labelling of the syncytiotrophoblasts' brush border membrane confirmed its galectin-like externalization to the cell surface. Knowing its colocalization and specific binding to annexin II, PP13/galectin-13 was assumed to be secreted to the outer cell surface by ectocytosis, in microvesicles containing actin and annexin II. With regard to our functional and immunomorphological results, PP13/galectin-13 may have special haemostatic and immunobiological functions at the lining of the common feto-maternal blood-spaces or developmental role in the placenta.

Lipid droplet and milk lipid globule membrane associated placental protein 17b (PP17b) is involved in apoptotic and differentiation processes of human epithelial cervical carcinoma cells.

The intracellular role of placental protein 17b (PP17b)/TIP47 has been controversial, because it is considered to be a protein required for mannose 6-phosphate receptor transport from endosome to trans-Golgi as well as a neutral lipid droplet-associated protein. The similarity between the amino acid sequences of PP17 variants, adipophilin and perilipins, and between their gene structures indicate that PP17b as well as other alternatively spliced PP17 variants belong to the lipid storage droplet protein family, containing also some differentiation factors. Using a specific antibody, PP17b was detected in lipid droplet fractions and co-localized with neutral lipid droplets stained by Nile red, and fluorescently labelled PP17 antibody in HeLa cells with confocal microscopy. PP17b was also detected in milk, associated to milk lipid globule membranes. Cytostatic agents induced apoptosis and PP17b synthesis in HeLa cells, which was significantly inhibited by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, indicating the involvement of NF-kappa B and AP-1 transcription factors in this process, while protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor had only a modest inhibitory effect. Cell differentiation induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or phorbol myristate acetate also increased PP17b synthesis, demonstrating its strong involvement in cell differentiation. PP17b synthesis was higher in M than in G0/G1 phases in control, apoptotic and differentiated cells. This data shows that PP17b is a neutral lipid droplet-associated protein, and its expression is regulated by PKC- and PKA-dependent pathways.