Immune Netw.  2019 Jun;19(3):e17. 10.4110/in.2019.19.e17.

Galectin-4 Interaction with CD14 Triggers the Differentiation of Monocytes into Macrophage-like Cells via the MAPK Signaling Pathway

• Hong SH
• Shin JS
• Chung H
• Park CG

• KMID: 2450202
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2019.19.e17

Abstract

Galectin-4 (Gal-4) is a β-galactoside-binding protein mostly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Although intensive functional studies have been done for other galectin isoforms, the immunoregulatory function of Gal-4 still remains ambiguous. Here, we demonstrated that Gal-4 could bind to CD14 on monocytes and induce their differentiation into macrophage-like cells through the MAPK signaling pathway. Gal-4 induced the phenotypic changes on monocytes by altering the expression of various surface molecules, and induced functional changes such as increased cytokine production and matrix metalloproteinase expression and reduced phagocytic capacity. Concomitant with these changes, Gal-4-treated monocytes became adherent and showed elongated morphology with higher expression of macrophage markers. Notably, we found that Gal-4 interacted with CD14 and activated the MAPK signaling cascade. Therefore, these findings suggest that Gal-4 may exert the immunoregulatory functions through the activation and differentiation of monocytes.

Keyword

Galectin-4; Cell differentiation; Monocytes; LPS receptor; Mitogen-activated-protein kinases

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antigens, CD14
Cell Differentiation
Galectin 4*
Galectins
Gastrointestinal Tract
Macrophages
Monocytes*
Protein Isoforms
Antigens, CD14
Galectin 4
Galectins
Protein Isoforms