Recombinant Human Galectin-7

Galectins belong to a family of related beta-galactoside-binding lectins, also referred to as S-type or S-Lac lectins. Galectin-7 (Gal-7) is highly expressed in the epidermis and contributes to different events associated with the differentiation and development of pluristratified epithelia (1). Gal-7 is also associated with epithelial cell migration, which plays a crucial role in the re-epithelialization process of corneal or epidermal wounds. In addition, recent evidence indicates that Gal-7, designated as the product of the p53-induced gene 1 (PIG1), is a regulator of apoptosis through JNK activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c release (2). Defects in apoptosis constitute one of the major hallmarks of human cancers and Gal-7 can act as either a positive or a negative regulatory factor in tumor development, depending on the histological type of the tumor. Specifically, this protein has been shown to increase susceptibility of keratinocytes to UVB induced apoptosis, an essential process in the maintenance of epidermal homeostasis (3).