Galectin-Related Protein

Key driver of diabetic neuropathic pain

A newly identified protein that drives diabetic neuropathic pain by binding to vimentin on astrocytes and subsequently maintaining hyperexcitability of glutamatergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Chen, Danyang · Jing-Jing, Wang · Xiang-Jie, Song · Chen, Yuan · Wang, Meng · Yang, Xin · Zhang, Zhi · Li, Juan · Wang, Wei · Wang, Haitao

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2025

Advantages

Clear mechanism

LGALSL binds to vimentin on astrocytes, activating them and subsequently maintaining glutamatergic neuron hypersensitivity, providing a defined molecular target for intervention.

Blocking relieves pain

Blocking LGALSL-vimentin interactions with a synthetic peptide alleviated LGALSL-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, demonstrating direct therapeutic potential.

Applications

• Neuropathic Pain：Provides a new central mechanism and therapeutic target for neuropathic pain
• Diabetic Complications：Explains the pathological process of diabetic neuropathic pain complication
• Pain Biomarkers：LGALSL upregulation may serve as a candidate biomarker for pain state
• Pain Targets：LGALSL-vimentin interaction is a target for analgesic intervention