eCM (Eur Cell Mater / e Cells & Materials) eCM Open Access Scientific Journal
 ISSN:1473-2262         NLM:100973416 (link)         DOI:10.22203/eCM

2012   Volume No 23 – pages 170-181

Title: Multivalent structure of galectin-1-nanogold complex serves as potential therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis by enhancing receptor clustering

Author: Y-J Huang, A-L Shiau, S-Y Chen, Y-L Chen, C-R Wang, C-Y Tsai, M-Y Chang, Y-T Li, C-H Leu, C-L Wu

Address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, 1 University Road, Tainan 70101, Taiwan

E-mail: wumolbio at mail.ncku.edu.tw

Key Words: Rheumatoid arthritis, ankle joint, apoptosis, cell-surface receptors, galectin-1, gold, inflammation, nanoparticles

Publication date: March 13th 2012

Abstract: Cellular behaviour is controlled by numerous processes, including intracellular signalling pathways that are triggered by the binding of ligands with cell surface receptors. Multivalent ligands have multiple copies of a recognition element that binds to receptors and influences downstream signals. Nanoparticle-ligand complexes may form multivalent structures to crosslink receptors with high avidity and specificity. After conjugation onto gold nanoparticles, galectin-1 (Au-Gal1) bound with higher affinity to Jurkat cells to promote CD45 clustering and inhibition of its phosphatase activity, resulting in enhancement of apoptosis via caspase-dependent pathways. Au-Gal1 injected intra-articularly into rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) promoted apoptosis of CD4+ T cells and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the ankle joints as well as ameliorated clinical symptoms of arthritis. These observed therapeutic effects indicate that the multivalent structure of nanoparticle-ligands can regulate the distribution of cell surface receptors and subsequent intracellular signalling, and this may provide new insights into nanoparticle applications.

Article download: Pages 170-181 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v023a13