GAL1 Antibody
Description
Definition and Biological Relevance of Gal-1 Antibodies
Gal-1 antibodies are monoclonal or polyclonal immunoglobulins that bind to Gal-1, a 14 kDa protein encoded by the LGALS1 gene. Gal-1 facilitates tumor immune evasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis by interacting with glycosylated receptors on endothelial cells (ECs) and immune cells . Antibodies against Gal-1 block these interactions, offering potential therapeutic benefits in cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Development and Specificity of Gal-1 Antibodies
Key advancements in Gal-1 antibody development include:
Monoclonal Antibodies
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Gal-1-mAb3: A neutralizing monoclonal antibody that binds a unique Gal-1 epitope, disrupting its angiogenic and immunosuppressive functions. It inhibits Gal-1 binding to VEGFR2 and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), critical for VEGF-like signaling in ECs .
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αhGal-1: A porcine/human cross-reactive antibody targeting a conserved epitope (peptide sequence: SKDGGAWG). It shows no cross-reactivity with other galectins (Gal-2, -3, -4, -7) .
| Antibody | Epitope Specificity | Cross-Reactivity | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gal-1-mAb3 | Unique conformational epitope | None | Neutralization in cancer models |
| αhGal-1 | SKDGGAWG peptide | Porcine, human | Immunohistochemistry, Western blot |
Mechanisms of Action
Gal-1 antibodies exert dual effects:
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Angiogenesis Inhibition: Block Gal-1 binding to EC receptors (e.g., VEGFR2), reducing tumor vascularization .
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Immune Modulation: Reverse Gal-1-mediated immunosuppression by enhancing T cell infiltration and reducing regulatory T (Treg) cell activity .
Key Pathways Targeted
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STAT Signaling: Gal-1 knockdown reduces STAT1 activation in tumor ECs, downregulating PD-L1 and other immune checkpoint ligands .
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Warburg Effect: In glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), Gal-1 antibodies disrupt hypoxia-induced metabolic reprogramming by reducing CA-IX expression .
Cancer Therapy
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Tumor Growth Reduction: In syngeneic lung adenocarcinoma models, Gal-1 inhibition via antibodies reduced tumor volume by 40–60% and enhanced NK cell activity .
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Synergy with Immunotherapy: Anti-Gal-1 combined with anti-PD1 improved T cell infiltration and response rates in head and neck cancer models .
Autoimmune Diseases
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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Serum Gal-1 levels are elevated in RA patients (19.12 ng/ml cutoff for diagnosis; 71% sensitivity, 79% specificity) . Antibodies against Gal-1 may mitigate inflammation by restoring Th1/Th2 balance .
Clinical Biomarker Potential
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Cancer Prognosis: High Gal-1 expression correlates with poor survival in melanoma, glioblastoma, and lung cancer .
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Immune Checkpoint Response: Low Gal-1 levels predict better response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy .
Challenges and Future Directions
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Dimerization Stability: Recombinant Gal-1 (rGal-1) requires dimerization for functionality. Engineered forms (e.g., leucine-zippered Gal-1) show improved stability .
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Clinical Translation: Only one antibody (Gal-1-mAb3) has entered preclinical trials. Larger human studies are needed to validate diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy .
Product Specs
Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4
Target Background
- An AtGALK T-DNA insertion mutant (atgalk) exhibits the following characteristics:
(i) deficiency in AtGALK transcript;
(ii) absence of GALK activity in vegetative tissues; and
(iii) accumulation of Gal up to 6.8 mg g(-1) FW in vegetative tissues. PMID: 22437845 - Galacturonic acid-1-phosphate kinase is a newly identified member of the GHMP kinase superfamily in plants. PMID: 19509290
