Human galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of the galectin family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins, which exhibits both intracellular and extracellular functions, and is differentially expressed by a wide range of normal and neoplastic tissues. Gal-1 has been implicated in several major cellular functions including proliferation, motility, hematopoietic cell differentiation, apoptosis promotion and immunoregulatory effects. The expression of Gal-1 by neuronal and glial cells correlates with neuroregeneration following injury, and studies have shown the importance of Gal-1 to primary sensory neurons and synaptic connections in the spinal cord, during embryonic development.