Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
Galectin-1 promotes immunoglobulin production during plasma cell differentiation
Chih-Ming Tsai1, Yi-Kai Chiu, Tsui-Ling Hsu
1Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Galectin-1 promotes immunoglobulin (Ig) production during plasma cell differentiation. This immune-regulating protein is induced by Blimp-1 and binds to B cells, enhancing Ig output.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Galectin-1 is a soluble lectin involved in immune homeostasis.
- Its specific role in B cell differentiation and antibody production was previously unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of galectin-1 in plasma cell differentiation.
- To determine if galectin-1 influences immunoglobulin (Ig) production.
Main Methods:
- Studied galectin-1 induction in murine and human B cells.
- Utilized B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) to assess its role in galectin-1 expression.
- Examined the effect of ectopic galectin-1 expression on Ig production.
- Assessed galectin-1 binding to B cells and plasma cells.
- Used N-acetyllactosamine to block galectin-1 binding and assess its impact on B cell differentiation.
Main Results:
- Galectin-1 is induced during B cell differentiation, regulated by Blimp-1.
- Ectopic galectin-1 expression enhances Ig mu-chain transcripts and overall Ig production.
- Galectin-1's function depends on beta-galactoside binding to cell surface receptors.
- N-acetyllactosamine inhibits galectin-1 binding and B cell differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Galectin-1 plays a crucial role in promoting Ig production during plasma cell differentiation.
- This study elucidates a novel mechanism involving galectin-1 in adaptive immunity.
More Related Videos
06:15Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
Published on: September 7, 2018
07:07Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice
Published on: June 27, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
01:31Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
01:24B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
01:36Humoral Immune Responses
01:10Antibody Structure
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...