Galectin-8

Galectin-8 is a is_associated_with::protein of the is_associated_with::galectin family that in humans is encoded by the LGALS8 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
This gene encodes a member of the galectin family. Galectins are beta-galactoside-binding animal is_associated_with::lectins with conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. The galectins have been implicated in many essential functions including development, differentiation, cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix interaction, growth regulation, is_associated_with::apoptosis, and is_associated_with::RNA splicing. This gene is widely expressed in tumoral tissues and seems to be involved in is_associated_with::integrin-like cell interactions. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.

Role in cellular defence
Galectin-8 has recently been shown to have a role in cellular defence, against both bacterial cytosolic infection and vacuolar damage. Many intracellular bacteria, such as S. enterica serovar Typhimurium and S. flexneri prefer to replicate inside and outside of the vacuole safety respectively, yet these vacoles may become damaged, exposing bacteria to the host cell cytoplasm. It has been shown that the binding of galectin-8 to the damaged vacuole can recruit is_associated_with::autophagy adaptors such as NDP52 leading to the formation of an is_associated_with::autophagosome and subsequent bacterial destruction. As knockout experiments of galectin-8 leads to more successful cytosolic replication by S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, it is thought that galectin-8 acts as a danger receptor in defence against intracellular pathogens.

Interactions
Galectin-8 has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::CD49d, is_associated_with::CD29 and is_associated_with::CD49c.