Resumen de Expression of galectin-1 and -3 and of accessible binding sites during murine hair cycle

Uwe Wollina, D. Lange, R. Paus, M. Burchert, H.-J. Gabius

• Although protein-carbohydrate interactions are supposed to play key roles in cell adhesion, signalling and growth control. Their exact role in skin physiology has only recently been investigated. The endogenous lectins galectin-I and galectin-3 have been identified in skin including hair follicles. Here, we analyzed the expression and distribution of these galectins and their binding sites in C57BL/6 mice during hair cycle. The expression of galectin-I and galectin-3 binding sites was found to be predominantly hair cycledependent showing some overlapping to the expression of galectin-I and -3. The outer root sheath (ORS) expressed galectin-I binding sites during anagen IV to VI and in early catagen, whereas galectin-I was expressed from early anagen to late catagen. The ORS expressed galectin-3 binding sites during catagen transition corresponding to a galectin-3 expression during anagen V and catagen. The innermost layer of the ORS expressed galectin-3 binding sites during anagen VI until catagen VIII, but galectin-3 during anagen III to IV and catagen. The inner root sheath (IRS) expressed galectin-3 binding sites only in anagen IV but missed expression of any of the two galectins. The matrix cells expressed galectin-3 binding sites in catagen II-Ill as well as galectin-3 during anagen V to catagen IV. The present study provides the first evidence for a cyclerelated expression of both galectin-I and -3 and their binding sites during murine hair cycle.