Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Tractable In Vivo Reprogramming of Tumor Cells to Type 1 Conventional Dendritic Cell-like Cells
Published on: August 1, 2025
Reprogramming T cell fate through antibody-mediated galectin-1 blockade.
Roxana Kiyomi Mizutamari1, Juan M Pérez Sáez2, Alejandro J Cagnoni3
1Laboratorio de Glicomedicina, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos (CEPROCOR), Santa María de Punilla, Córdoba, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina.
Galectin-1 (GAL1) promotes cancer by suppressing immunity and aiding blood vessel growth. A new assay measures GAL1
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Galectins, conserved β-galactoside-binding proteins, influence cancer progression.
- Galectin-1 (GAL1) promotes tumor immunosuppression and angiogenesis.
- Targeting GAL1 inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in experimental models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a functional assay for evaluating galectin-targeting agents.
- To assess the blocking capacity of agents targeting GAL1.
- To establish a method for determining GAL1 activity through T-cell apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a T-cell death inhibition assay.
- Utilizing a fully human anti-GAL1 monoclonal antibody as a model inhibitor.
- Assessing the functional blocking activity of galectin-targeting agents.
Main Results:
- The described assay provides a functional readout of GAL1 activity.
- The assay can determine the blocking capacity of potential therapeutic agents.
- Demonstrated utility of the assay with an anti-GAL1 antibody.
Conclusions:
- Strategies targeting GAL1 show promise for cancer therapy.
- A T-cell death inhibition assay is crucial for evaluating GAL1-blocking agents.
- This assay serves as a vital tool in the development of novel cancer therapeutics.
