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

Although protein-carbohydrate interactions are supposed to play key roles i n cell adhesion, signalling and growth control. Their exact role in skin ph ysiology has only recently been investigated. The endogenous lectins galect in-1 and galectin-3 have been identified in skin including hair follicles. Here, we analyzed the expression and distribution of these galectins and th eir binding sites in C57BL/6 mice during hair cycle. The expression of gale ctin-1 and galectin-3 binding sites was found to be predominantly hair cycl e-dependent showing some overlapping to the expression of galectin-1 and -3 . The outer root sheath (ORS) expressed galectin-1 binding sites during ana gen IV to VI and in early catagen, whereas galectin-1 was expressed from ea rly anagen to late catagen. The ORS expressed galectin-3 binding sites duri ng catagen transition corresponding to a galectin-3 expression during anage n V and catagen. The innermost layer of the ORS expressed galectin-3 bindin g sites during anagen VI until catagen VIII, but galectin-3 during anagen I II to IV and catagen. The inner root sheath (IRS) expressed galectin-3 bind ing sites only in anagen IV but missed expression of any of the two galecti ns. The matrix cells expressed galectin-3 binding sites in catagen II-III a s well as galectin-3 during anagen V to catagen IV. The present study provi des the first evidence for a cycle-related expression of both galectin-1 an d -3 and their binding sites during murine hair cycle.