Cystinosin regulates kidney inflammation through its interaction with galectin-3

Inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of many disorders. Here, we show that cystinosin, protein defective in the lysosomal storage disorder cystinosis, is a critical regulator of galectin-3 during inflammation. Cystinosis is a lysosomal storage disorder and despite ubiquitous expression of cystinosin, kidney is the primary organ to be impacted by the disease. Here, we show that cystinosin interacts with galectin-3 and enhances its lysosomal localization and degradation. Galectin-3 is also found overexpressed in the kidney of the mouse model of cystinosis, Ctns-/-mice. Absence of galectin-3 in Ctns-/- mice led to a better renal function and structure, and decreased macrophage/monocyte infiltration in the kidney. Finally, galectin-3 interacts with a protein implicated in the recruitment of monocytes and macrophages during inflammation, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP1), that was found increased in the serum of Ctns-/- mice. These findings highlight a new role of cystinosin and galectin-3 interaction in inflammation, providing a mechanistic explanation for kidney disease pathogenesis in cystinosis, which may lead to the identification of new drug targets to delay its progression.