Role Of Galectin-3 On The Proliferation, Infiltration And Angiogenesis Of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

AimsTo investigate the role of Galectin-3 (GAL-3) on the interaction between pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and pancreatic cancer cells and the effects of Galectin-3 on the angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer cells.Methods1. Human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro. Human PSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro too. Supernatant fluid of cultured PSCs and SW1990 cells was collected.2. The expression of GAL-3 in cultured SW1990 cells and PSCs was detected by ELISA, RT-PCR and Western Blot.3. The effects of GAL-3 protein and supernatants of SW1990 cells on the proliferation of cultured PSCs were detected by MTT assay and flowcytometry. 4. The effects of GAL-3 antibody and supernatants of PSCs on the proliferation of SW1990 cells were measured in vitro by MTT assay and flowcytometry, and in vivo by nude mice model.5. The effects of GAL-3 antibody and supernatants of PSCs on the infiltration of SW1990 cells were detected by cell infiltration kit and chorioallantoic membrane assay.6. The effects of GAL-3 and supernatants of SW1990 cells on the proliferation of HUVECs were detected by MTT assay and flowcytometry.The effects of GAL-3 and supernatants of SW1990 cells on neovascularization were detected by tubular formation assay.Results1. SW1990 cells expressed GAL-3 and secreted it into the extracellular fluid. The expression of GAL-3 by SW1990 cells was up-regulated by supernatants of PSCs. PSCs did not express GAL-3.2. GAL-3 protein and supernatants of SW1990 cells could stimulate the proliferation of PSCs. GAL-3 antibody could partly inhibit the stimulation effect of SW1990 cells supernatants on the proliferation of PSCs.3. GAL-3 antibody could inhibit the proliferation of SW1990 cells. PSCs supernatant fluid could stimulate the proliferation of SW1990 cells, and this stimulation effect was partly inhibited by GAL-3 antibody. 4. GAL-3 antibody could inhibit the infiltration of SW1990 cells. PSCs supernatant fluid could stimulate the infiltration of SW1990 cells and this stimulation effect was partly inhibited by GAL-3 antibody.5. GAL-3 protein could stimulate the proliferation and tubular stucture formation of HUVECs in vitro. Supernatants of SW1990 cells could stimulate the proliferation and tubular formation of HUVECs, and this stimulation effect could be partly inhibited by GAL-3 antibody.Conclusions1. GAL-3 plays an important role in the progress of pancreatic cancer.2. Pancreatic cancer cells could stimulate the proliferation of PSCs by secreting GAL-3 and PSCs could up-regulate the expression of GAL-3 by pancreatic cancer cells. PSCs could stimulate the proliferation and infiltration of pancreatic cancer cells partly via GAL-3 expressed by pancreatic cancer cells. The interaction of PSCs and pancreatic cancer cells through GAL-3 played an important role in the development of pancreatic cancer.3. GAL-3 was involved in the neovascularization of pancreatic cancer.