Galectin-3 in Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a member of the galectin family, which consists of animal lectins that bind β-galactosides. Recently, a role for galectin-3 in the pathophysiology of heart failure has been suggested. It was observed that galectin-3 is specifically upregulated in decompensated heart failure compared with compensated heart failure in animal models of heart failure. This has been associated with activation of fibroblasts and macrophages, which are a hallmark of cardiac remodeling. Therefore, galectin-3 may be a culprit biomarker in heart failure. Initial clinical observations indicate that galectin-3 may be a useful biomarker for decompensated heart failure, with incremental value over well-used “pressure-dependent” biomarkers, such as B-type natriuretic peptide. Future studies should focus on galectin-3 biology to better address the usefulness of galectin-3 as a biomarker and probe the usefulness of anti-galectin-3 therapy in treating heart failure.

Galectin-3 in acute coronary syndrome

“…Under certain conditions, as ischemic injury, Gal-3 is over-expressed in attempt to regulate and maintain cell survival [14]. Finally, Gal-3 is involved in adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis; particularly, it has been shown that Gal-3 induces cardiac fibroblasts to proliferate and deposit type I collagen in the myocardium [15,16].…”

Identification and transcriptional analysis of two types of lectins (SgCTL-1 and SgGal-1) from mollusk Solen grandis

“…To date, all the members of galectin superfamily described did not contain a classical signal peptide, though they were known to be actively secreted [49]. A general consensus had been proposed that galectins are secreted via a "nonclassical" secretory pathway, involving protein targeting to the inner plasma membrane followed by membrane blebbing and secretion [50].…”

Significance of selected inflammatory factors in metabolic disorders in association with psoriasis

“…Galektynę 3 wykryto m.in. w aktywowanych makrofagach, mastocytach, fibroblastach, osteoklastach, komórkach nabłonka przewodu pokarmowego, nabłonka układu oddechowego oraz w mniejszych ilościach w nerkach, sercu, wątrobie i trzustce [32]. Lektyna ta znajduje się głównie w cytoplazmie, natomiast sporadycznie w jądrze komórkowym, mitochondriach i na powierzchni komórek [33,34].…”