Galectin-8 is expressed by villous and extravillous trophoblast of the human placenta.

Galectins (gals) as multifunctional animal lectins are of great potential significance for establishment and function of the placenta, due to their capacity to modulate cellular functions including proliferation, adhesion, and invasion. Human trophoblast is known to express gal-1, gal-3 and gal-13 proteins, as well as mRNAs for gal-14, -16 and -17. This study was undertaken to establish cellular distribution of gal-8, not previously associated with trophoblast, since we have recently detected gal-8 RNA and protein in cytotrophoblast cell material. Results of immunolocalization showed that gal-8 was expressed by villous and extravillous cytotrophoblast.