The therapeutic potential of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction: Neuroinflammation has been proposed as a common factor and one of the main inducers of neuronal degeneration. Galectins are a group of ß-galactoside-binding lectins, that play an important role in the immune response, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, migration and cell growth. Up to 15 members of the galectin's family have been identified; however, the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 has been considered a key factor in neuronal regeneration and modulation of the inflammatory response. Galectin-1 is necessary to stimulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors in astrocytes and promoting neuronal regeneration. In contrast, galectin-3 fosters the proliferation of microglial cells and modulates cellular apoptosis, therefore these proteins are considered a useful alternative for the treatment of degenerative diseases.Areas covered: This review describes the roles of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in the modulation of neuroinflammation and their potential as therapeutic targets in the treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.Expert opinion: Although data in the literature vary, the effects of galectin-1 and galectin-3 on the activation and modulation of astrocytes and microglia has been described. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, galectin-1 is proposed as a molecule with therapeutic potential, whereas the inhibition of galectin-3 could contribute to reduce the neuroinflammatory response in neurodegenerative diseases.

Role of concanavalin A lectin in recognition of pterygium remnant after surgical excision: preliminary results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Pterygium is one of the most common conjunctival diseases among ophthalmic pathologies. The frequency of recurrences is high, either after surgical treatment or after treatment combined with mitomycin C or beta-radiation therapy. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether concanavalin A (ConA) lectin bound to the pterygial surface can be used to detect recurrence or remnants of pterygium after surgical excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study on 20 patients with pterygium, divided in five stages, pre-surgery, early post-surgery (24h), late post-surgery (seven days), very late post-surgery (four weeks) and two months after the procedure. A drop of fluorescein-marked Con A (35 microg/mL) was instilled in the lower conjunctival eyelid sac and the eye was exposed to the light of a Wood's lamp for an average of five seconds. RESULTS: Out of the 20 patients, eight patients were found to have fluorescent stretch marks over the scar corresponding to residual pterygial tissue at four weeks; two months after the procedure of re-surgery we observed no fluorescent remnants. All residual pterygia were confirmed through histochemistry studies. CONCLUSION: It was possible to detect remnants of pterygium in postoperative patients and recurrences in early pre-clinical stages through the visualization of fluorescent ConA bound to the pterygial surface.