Nerve growth factor-mediated expression of galectin-3 in mouse dorsal rootganglion neurons

Galectin-3, a member of the galectin family of beta-galactoside-specific le ctins has been found to be expressed by subsets of dorsal root ganglion (DR G) neurons during development and in adulthood. Here we show that (i) after 3-7 days in vitro, DRG neurons derived from neonatal mice express galectin -3 intra- and extracellularly and (ii) lectin expression requires the prese nce of nerve growth factor (NGF). After 3 days in vitro, a higher number of DRG neurons expressed galectin-3 in the presence of NGF (65 +/- 7%) than i n the presence of bra in-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, 30 +/- 3%) or n eurotrophin-3 (NT-3, 34 +/- 3%). After 7 days in vitro, these numbers dropp ed to 51 +/- 3% (for NGF), 0% (for BDNF) and 8 +/- 4% (for NT-3), respectiv ely. Our findings provide first evidence for the contribution of a neurotro phin to the neuronal expression of galectins and suggest an NGF/TrkA-mediat ed expression of galectin-3 by early postnatal DRG neurons. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.