LGALS3 Gene

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

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" style="color:#ef9a9a">AD</a>, <a href="/wiki/ali" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALI</a>, <a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALS</a>, <a href="/wiki/aging" style="color:#ef9a9a">Aging</a>, <a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">564 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

Pathway Diagram

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

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

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 pathology.

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

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.

See Also

• [Genes Index](/genes)
• [Neuroinflammation Pathway](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation-pathway)
• [Microglia](/cell-types/microglia)
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
• [Microglia](/cell-types/microglia)
• [Neuroinflammation Pathway](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation-pathway)
• [TREM2 Gene](/genes/trem2)
• CD33 Gene
• Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers

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

Pathway Diagram

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