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Review
. 2021 Mar 19:12:638258.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.638258. eCollection 2021.

Galectin-3, Possible Role in Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Target

Milica Velickovic  1 , Aleksandar Arsenijevic  2 , Aleksandar Acovic  1 , Dragana Arsenijevic  3 , Jelena Milovanovic  2   4 , Jelena Dimitrijevic  2 , Zeljko Todorovic  5 , Marija Milovanovic  2 , Tatjana Kanjevac  1 , Nebojsa Arsenijevic  2
Affiliations
Review

Galectin-3, Possible Role in Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Target

Milica Velickovic et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory diseases that occur due to the imbalance between microbial communities in the oral cavity and the immune response of the host that lead to destruction of tooth supporting structures and finally to alveolar bone loss. Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin with important roles in numerous biological processes. By direct binding to microbes and modulation of their clearence, Galectin-3 can affect the composition of microbial community in the oral cavity. Galectin-3 also modulates the function of many immune cells in the gingiva and gingival sulcus and thus can affect immune homeostasis. Few clinical studies demonstrated increased expression of Galectin-3 in different forms of periodontal diseases. Therefore, the objective of this mini review is to discuss the possible effects of Galectin-3 on the process of immune homeostasis and the balance between oral microbial community and host response and to provide insights into the potential therapeutic targeting of Gal-3 in periodontal disease.

Keywords: dysbiosis; galectin-3; gingival barrier; periodontal diseases; periodontal immunity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Structure of Gal-3. Schematic presentation of Gal-3 monomer and Gal-3 oligomerization.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Possible role of Gal-3 in development of periodontal diseases by modulation of the key players in periodontitis pathogenesis. Dual roles of Gal-3 in modulation of oral epithelium, neutrophils, macrophages and Th17 cells functions that depend on amount, extra- or intra-cellular localization of Gal-3 and microenvironement that can contribute to maintenance of periodontal health or periodontitis development.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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