Expression and role of Galectin-3 in the postnatal development of the cerebellum

Many proteins initially identified in the immune system play roles in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon guidance, synaptic plasticity and other processes related to the formation and refinement of neural circuits. Although the function of the immune-related protein Galectin-3 (LGALS3) has been extensively studied in the regulation of inflammation, cancer and microglia activation, little is known about its role in the development of the brain. In this study, we identified that LGALS3 is expressed in the developing postnatal cerebellum. More precisely, LGALS3 is expressed by cells in meninges and in the choroid plexus, and in subpopulations of astrocytes and of microglial cells in the cerebellar cortex. Analysis of Lgals3 knockout mice showed that Lgals3 is dispensable for the development of cerebellar cytoarchitecture and Purkinje cell excitatory synaptogenesis in the mouse.