Galectin-3

Class

humanized monoclonal antibody

Galectin-3 is a protein belonging to a family of lectins, molecules that recognize specific sugar structures on other proteins and lipids. It is produced by many cell types, including macrophages, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts, and can act both inside the cell and after being secreted into the extracellular space. Once outside the cell, galectin-3 binds sugar chains on cell-surface and matrix proteins, promoting cell adhesion, clustering of certain receptors, and activation of immune and fibrogenic cells. This activity places it at the intersection of chronic inflammation, tissue scarring (fibrosis), and cancer biology. In organs such as the liver and heart, sustained galectin-3 activity is associated with the activation of fibroblasts into collagen-producing cells, contributing to conditions like liver or cardiac fibrosis. In tumors, galectin-3 can help cancer cells evade immune surveillance and promote spread to distant sites. Because of these roles, therapeutic strategies aim to block galectin-3, either by preventing its sugar-binding domain from engaging its natural partners or by neutralizing the protein directly. These approaches are being explored across a spectrum of diseases characterized by excess fibrosis or tumor-associated immune suppression, reflecting galectin-3's broad involvement in tissue remodeling and immune regulation rather than a single, narrow disease pathway.