Galectin-3 is a 31 kDa lectin that binds to beta-galactosidase. Galectin-3 is normally expressed in the epithelia of many organs and various inflammatory cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells and Kupffer cells.
This lectin expression is upregulated during inflammation, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation by viral proteins. The anti-galectin-3 antibody is useful for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors on histological sections and cytopuncture samples. This antibody has also been shown to be effective in anaplastic large cell lymphomas identification.