Hydrocortisone and dexamethasone affect galectin-3 expression

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Galectin-3, a β-galactoside binding lectin, acts as a strong pro-inflammatory signal. Many immunomodulatory drugs affect signaling pathways that comprise transcription factors involved in the regulation of galectin-3 gene (LGALS3) expression. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hydrocortisone - HC and dexamethasone - Dex) on the expression of galectin-3, both at the mRNA and the protein level. Materials and Methods: The human monocytic cell line THP-1 was exposed to various concentrations of HC (0.1, 1, 5 and 10 μM) and Dex (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 nM) during 1, 3, 5, 24, 48 or 72 hrs. Relative RT-PCR method and GeneScan analysis software were used for assessing galectin-3 mRNA level and chemiluminescent-western blot analysis for measuring galectin-3 level. Results: The results showed that both drugs in all applied concentrations halved the galectin-3 mRNA level already after 1 h of exposure. The decrease continued and after 72 hours the mRNA level dropped to 3.8-15.4% of the initial value. The protein expression of galectin-3 did not follow the same pattern; although both drugs in all applied concentration provoked the reduction in galectin-3 level, the decrease was observed not until 48 and 72 hours of exposure, when galectin-3 level fell to 71% to 38% of the initial value, respectively. Conclusion: Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cause the reduction in both gene and protein expression of galectin-3, but the intensity of changes and the time of their appearance strongly depend on the type and concentration of the drug.