Proteomic study of galectin-1 expression in human mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to interact with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immune cells, and are of potential interest to be used as therapeutic agents for enhancing allogenic hematopoietic engraftment and preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Galectin 1 (Gall) belongs to a family of structurally related molecules expressed in many vertebrate tissues that exert their functions both by binding to glycoconjugates, and by interaction with protein partners. In this work using a proteomic approach, we looked for the presence and the localization of Gall in short- and long-term culture of human (h) hMSC. We first determined, that Gall is one of the major proteins expressed in hMSC. We futher demonstrated that its expression is maintained when hMSC are expanded through a subculturing process up to five passages. Moreover, Gall is secreted and found at the cell surface of MSC, participating in extra cellular matrix (ECM)-cell interactions. Given the immunomodulatory properties of Gall, its potential involvement in immunological functions of hMSC could be suggested.