The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. LGALS9 is an S-type lectin. This galectin is strongly overexpressed in Hodgkin's disease tissue and it might participate in the interaction between the H&RS cells with their surrounding cells and might thus play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease and/or its consistently associated immunodeficiency. The protein has N- and C- terminal carbohydrate-binding domains connected by a link peptide. Two isoforms (long and short) exist.Synonyms: Ecalectin, Galectin9, HOM-HD-21, LGALS9