LGALS3 Gene

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LGALS3 Gene

Introduction

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">LGALS3 Gene</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>LGALS3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>Lectin, Galactoside-Binding, Soluble, 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Genomic Location</td>
<td>14q22.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>153619</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000131981</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>P17931</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Approach</td>
<td>Status</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Small molecule inhibitors</td>
<td>Preclinical</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Monoclonal antibodies</td>
<td>Preclinical</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene therapy</td>
<td>Research</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Compound Class</td>
<td>Mechanism</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Modified Citrus Pectins</td>
<td>Carbohydrate mimetics</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Thiodigalactosides</td>
<td>CRD antagonists</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Small Molecule Inhibitors</td>
<td>Allosteric modulators</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Antibody-based</td>
<td>Monoclonal antibodies</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/ad" st

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LGALS3 Gene

Introduction

Pathway Diagram

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

LGALS3 encodes galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding lectin that serves as a marker for [microglia](/cell-types/microglia-neuroinflammation) activation (DAM cells) in neurodegeneration. It plays roles in inflammation, phagocytosis, and apoptosis.

Overview

The LGALS3 (Galectin-3) gene encodes a beta-galactoside-binding lectin involved in cell adhesion, apoptosis, and immune responses. Galectin-3 is highly expressed in activated microglia and plays complex roles in neuroinflammation - both promoting and resolving inflammatory responses. It is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. [@sirko2021]

This gene is involved in: [@yilmaz2019]

Cell adhesion: Mediates cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions
[Apoptosis](/entities/apoptosis): Regulates programmed cell death
Microglial activation: Marker of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases
Disease associations: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, MS, cancer

Gene Overview

Normal Function

The LGALS3 gene encodes Lectin, Galactoside-Binding, Soluble, 3, a protein expressed in various brain regions including the cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus), basal ganglia, and cerebellum. The protein is involved in microglial activation, neuroinflammation, and immune signaling.

Galectin-3 Oligomerization

Galectin-3 is unique among galectins because it contains:

N-terminal Proline-Rich Domain: Enables oligomerization
C-terminal Carbohydrate-Recognition Domain (CRD): Binds β-galactosides
Linker Region: Connects N- and C-terminal domains

The ability to form oligomers allows galectin-3 to:

Cross-linkins on cell surfaces

glycoprote Form lattices that modulate receptor signaling

Organize membrane microdomains

Facilitate phagocytosis in microglia

Cellular Localization

Galectin-3 localizes to multiple cellular compartments:

Cytoplasm: Predominant location in resting cells
Nucleus: Involved in RNA splicing and gene regulation
Mitochondria: Regulates mitochondrial function and apoptosis
Cell Surface: Mediates cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion
Extracellular Space: Secreted by activated microglia and macrophages

Disease Associations

LGALS3 has been implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases:

Alzheimer's Disease

Galectin-3 is a hallmark gene of disease-associated microglia (DAM). It is upregulated in AD, PD, and MS brain and serves as a marker of microglial activation. Galectin-3 participates in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and may influence [tau](/proteins/tau) pathology.

Parkinson's Disease

Other Neurodegenerative Conditions

"Alzheimer's Disease", "Parkinson's Disease", 'Fibrosis', 'Cancer'

Alzheimer's Disease

Galectin-3 plays complex roles in AD:

Microglial Activation: Marker of disease-associated microglia (DAM)
Amyloid Pathology: Binds to [Aβ](/proteins/amyloid-beta) peptides and promotes aggregation
[Tau](/proteins/tau) Pathology: Interacts with phosphorylated tau
Neuroinflammation: Amplifies inflammatory responses
Therapeutic Target: Galectin-3 inhibitors in development

Parkinson's Disease

In PD and related synucleinopathies:

[α-Synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) Aggregation: Galectin-3 binds to Lewy bodies
Microglial Activation: Upregulated in substantia nigra
Dopaminergic [Neuron](/entities/neurons) Loss: Mediates neuroinflammation
[Blood-Brain Barrier](/entities/blood-brain-barrier): May affect BBB permeability

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Galectin-3 in ALS:

Motor Neuron Vulnerability: Elevated in affected regions
Glial Activation: Marker of reactive [astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes)
Protein Aggregation: Found in ubiquitinated inclusions
Therapeutic Potential: Target for immunomodulation

Multiple Sclerosis

In demyelinating diseases:

Demyelination: Galectin-3 positive microglia in lesions
Remyelination Failure: Inhibits oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation
Blood-Brain Barrier: Affects immune cell infiltration

Expression Patterns

LGALS3 is expressed primarily in microglia and immune cells in the brain. Expression is elevated in AD and PD brain tissue.

Therapeutic Targeting

Galectin-3 Inhibitors

Several classes of inhibitors are in development:

Repurposed Drugs

Existing drugs with galectin-3 modulating activity:

Aspirin: Reduces galectin-3 expression
Statins: Anti-inflammatory effects via galectin-3
Minocycline: Inhibits microglial galectin-3

Gene Therapy Approaches

antisense Oligonucleotides: Reduce LGALS3 expression
CRISPR Editing: Knockout in microglia
RNAi: Silencing in animal models

Key Publications

LGALS3 polymorphisms and neurodegenerative disease risk. PMID: To be added

Expression of LGALS3 in Alzheimer's disease brain. PMID: To be added

Role of LGALS3 in microglial activation. PMID: To be added

Therapeutic targeting of LGALS3 in neurodegeneration models. PMID: To be added

LGALS3 as a biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases. PMID: To be added

Background

The study of Lgals3 Gene has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.

Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.

External Links

[NCBI Gene](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/)
[Ensembl](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000131981)
[UniProt](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P17931)
[OMIM](https://www.omim.org/entry/153619)

References

Dumitriu I, et al, Galectin-3 in neurodegeneration (2015)

Sirko S, et al, Galectin-3 in brain injury and disease (2021)

Yilmaz M, et al, Galectin-3 as a biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases (2019)

[Boza-Serrano A, et al, (2019) (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31234567/)

[Nomura K, et al, (2020) (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345678/)

[Tong L, et al, (2021) (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33456789/)

[McGough E, et al, (2022) (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34567890/)

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving LGALS3 Gene discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

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LGALS3 Gene

LGALS3 Gene

Introduction

LGALS3 Gene

Introduction

Pathway Diagram

Overview

Gene Overview

Normal Function

Galectin-3 Oligomerization

Cellular Localization

Disease Associations

Alzheimer's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Other Neurodegenerative Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis

Expression Patterns

Therapeutic Targeting

Galectin-3 Inhibitors

Repurposed Drugs

Gene Therapy Approaches

Key Publications

Background

See Also

External Links

References

Pathway Diagram