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Galectin family, endogenous b-galactoside-binding animal lectins, is known for the role in cell differentiation, morphogenesis, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Galectin-3, one of family member, has been studied for its role in cell differentiation and tumor metastasis, and for its expression on epithelial cells of colon and mast cells but not in brain. Several reports, however, suggest its expression in brain including as a prion binding protein. In this report we explored possibility of galectin-3 expression in brain tissue. With Western blot and RT-PCR with rat brain tissues, we could detect galectin-3 that was not shown by conventional immunohistochemistry. Our results indicated galectin-3 was expressed in brain, and substantiate the previous report on galecin-3 as a prion-related protein in brain.
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