Galectin‐3 is overexpressed in advanced cirrhosis and predicts post‐liver transplant infectious complications

Abstract

Background & Aims: Patients with advanced cirrhosis often have immune dysfunction and are more susceptible to infections. Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin implicated in inflammation, immune regulation and liver fibrosis. We aim to investigate galectin-3 expression in advanced cirrhosis and its ability to predict post-transplant infectious complications. Methods:We collected sera and liver samples from 129 cirrhotic patients at the time of liver transplantation and from an external cohort of 37 patients with alcoholic liver disease including alcoholic hepatitis (AH) at the time of diagnosis. Galectin-3 was assessed by ELISA, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and RNA-seq. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis were performed to assess the predictive power of galectin-3 for disease severity and posttransplant infections.Results: Increased galectin-3 levels were found in advanced cirrhosis. Galectin-3 significantly correlated with disease severity parameters and inflammatory markers.

Galectin‐3 in biliary atresia and other pediatric cholestatic liver diseases

“…Furthermore, Honsawek et al. did not compare BA patients to other CLD, and therefore it remained unknown if the elevation in serum Galectin‐3 was unique to BA, or was just a feature of chronic liver disease, as we have previously reported in adults 37 . In this study, we showed similar circulating levels of Galectin‐3 in late BA and other CLD, suggesting that elevation in circulating Galectin‐3 is indeed linked to the progression of end‐stage liver disease, rather than a unique feature of BA.…”

Evaluation of right ventricular diastolic function, systolic function, and circulating galectin‐3 concentrations in dogs with pulmonary stenosis

“…Additionally, circulating Gal-3 has been found to be increased in dogs with noncardiac diseases such as severe dermatologic disease including neoplasia 66,67 and endocrine disease, 66 as well as in cirrhosis of the liver in human patients. 68 In experimental studies of animals with cardiac disease and in studies of humans without the above-listed diseases, concentrations of Gal-3 correlate well with the degree of myocardial fibrosis observed. We excluded patients with severe liver disease, those with any dermatologic abnormalities, and those with systemic hypertension or a diagnosis of neoplasia.…”

“…Estimates of right atrial volume may provide clinically relevant information regarding RV diastolic function, and measurement of right atrial area may have provided a more precise evaluation of the right atrial dimension compared to the linear variable used in our study. Additionally, circulating Gal‐3 has been found to be increased in dogs with noncardiac diseases such as severe dermatologic disease including neoplasia 66,67 and endocrine disease, 66 as well as in cirrhosis of the liver in human patients 68 . In experimental studies of animals with cardiac disease and in studies of humans without the above‐listed diseases, concentrations of Gal‐3 correlate well with the degree of myocardial fibrosis observed.…”

Liver transplantation is beneficial regardless of cirrhosis stage or acute-on-chronic liver failure grade: A single-center experience

“…Patients were classified into compensated cirrhosis (CC), decompensated cirrhosis (DC), and ACLF, and the latter were further subdivided into ACLF grades 1, 2 and 3 (Figure 1 ). Diagnoses of CC and DC were based on the absence or presence of symptoms related to portal hypertension, including ascites, encephalopathy, or variceal bleeding, respectively, as previously described[ 14 ]. All CC patients received liver transplant because of hepatocarcinoma mainly due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.…”