Expression of galectin molecules in intraocular tissue and inflammation

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To study the role of Galectin molecules in intraocular tissue. We examined the expression of Galectin molecules in intraocular tissues in normal and inflammatory conditions. Methods Lewis rats eye ball and cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells were used for experiment. Expression levels of Galectin – 1, 3, and 9 were examined with immune staining for the proteins and in situ hybridization for the mRNAs in normal and inflammatory conditions. Expression levels of the mRNA from established retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) derived cells of ARPE‐19 and hTERT were also examined with real time PCR Results Galectin ‐ 1in normal condition: the protein expression was detected in ciliary body, RPE, retinal outer and inner segments. In inflammatory condition, expression levels were not changed dramatically. Galectin – 3 in normal and inflammatory condition: ubiquitous expression was detected in almost all tissues of the eye (ciliary body, RPE and neural retinal layers). Galectin – 9 in normal condition: a little amount of expression was detected in ciliary body, choroid RPE, and some layers of neural retina. In inflammatory condition, expression levels increased in the above tissues. In cultured RPE cells expressed galectin molecules in normal conditions. When the cells were stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines, only expression of Galectin – 9 increased. Conclusion Recently It is reported that Galectin – 9 and Tim – 3 bind and negatively regulates Th1 immunity. In intraocular tissue,Galectin – 9 also may play important roles for modulating intraocular immune responses.