Immunosuppressive Roles of Galectin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment
Yanyu Huang,
Hsiao-Chi Wang,
Junwei Zhao,
Ming-Heng Wu,
Tsung-Chieh Shih
Affiliations
Yanyu Huang
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
Hsiao-Chi Wang
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
Junwei Zhao
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
Ming-Heng Wu
Graduate Institute of Translational Medicine and International Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Tsung-Chieh Shih
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
Evasion of immune surveillance is an accepted hallmark of tumor progression. The production of immune suppressive mediators by tumor cells is one of the major mechanisms of tumor immune escape. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a pivotal immunosuppressive molecule, is expressed by many types of cancer. Tumor-secreted Gal-1 can bind to glycosylated receptors on immune cells and trigger the suppression of immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to the immune evasion of tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature on the expression and function of Gal-1 in the human tumor microenvironment, as well as therapeutics targeting Gal-1.
