Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Scarring Dual Effect of Galectin-3 Inhibition in Mouse Animal Models of Corneal Wound Healing

In this study, using mouse models of corneal wound healing, we demonstrate that topical application of a small molecule inhibitor of galectin-3, GB1265: reduces (i) corneal angiogenesis, (ii) corneal fibrosis, (iii) infiltration of immune cells and (iv) expression of proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, in injured corneas. Four independent techniques (RNA-seq, NanoString, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analyses) all demonstrated that decrease in corneal opacity in the galectin-3 inhibitor-treated corneas is associated with a decrease in a number of genes and signaling pathways that are known to promote fibrosis. These findings allow us to place a high level of confidence in our conclusion that galectin-3 inhibition by a small molecule inhibitor, GB1265, has dual anti-angiogenic and anti-scarring effect. Targeting galectin-3 by GB1265, is thus, an attractive strategy for development of innovative treatment of myriad of ocular and nonocular diseases characterized by pathological angiogenesis and fibrosis.PMID:38159722 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.11.018
Source: Am J Pathol - Category: Pathology Authors: Source Type: research