Is Galectin-3 a Biomarker, a Player—or Both—in the Presence of Coronary Atherosclerosis?

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a complex process mediated by leukocytes, macrophages and various inflammatory markers. Galectin-3 is secreted by activated macrophages and is involved in cardiac fibrosis, cardiac remodeling, and inflammation. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and serum galectin-3 levels. The study included 82 patients with CAD confirmed via coronary angiography and 82 healthy participants as control group. Angiographic CAD was defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of at least one major epicardial coronary artery. The severity of CAD was determined by the Gensini score; and the serum galectin-3 levels were measured via ELISA. Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in the patient group with CAD than in the control group (12.96±4.92 vs 5.52±1.9 ng/mL, p<0.001). In the correlation analysis, serum galectin-3 showed significant correlation with the Gensini score (r=0.715, p<0.001), number of diseased vessels (r=0.752, p<0.001) and serum hs-CRP level (r=0.607, p<0.001). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum galectin-3 levels were significant and independent predictors of the presence of angiographic CAD (OR=3.933, 95% CI 2.395 to 6.457; p<0.001). In the present study, the serum galectin-3 levels were higher in the patients with CAD than in healthy controls. Also, serum galectin-3 levels showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of CAD. An increased serum galectin-3 level may be considered an important activator and a marker of the atherosclerotic inflammatory process in CAD.

Galectin-3 Is a Potential Mediator for Atherosclerosis

“…Heart failure patients [79] The sensitivity and specificity of Gal-3 for heart failure diagnosis were 94.3% and 65.1%, respectively. Patients with coronary artery disease [68] Gal-3 was a significant and independent predictor. Patients with myocardial infarction [85] Elevated Gal-3 was associated with mortality and heart failure.…”

“…were positively associated in the univariate analysis with carotid intima-media thickness, the marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, suggesting the potential utility of Gal-3 as a biomarker for subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with RA [67]. Gal-3 is also shown to be a significant and independent predictor for coronary atherosclerosis [68]. In addition, Pei et al investigated the effect of berberine on ox-LDLinduced macrophage activation and Gal-3 expression in neoatherosclerosis patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.…”

Galectin-3 is Associated with Cardiovascular Events in Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Type-2 Diabetes

“…Although the relationship between galectin-3 and atherosclerosis is not completely understood, galectin-3 plays a role in the formation and destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque [17,18]. Additionally, it may act as a chemo-attractant for monocytes to the vascular wall [19] and may also induce differentiation of macrophages into foam cells [20].…”

Galectin-3 in acute coronary syndrome

“…This disease process, known as atherothrombosis, can lead to ACS or stroke [17][18][19]. The influence of Gal-3 on both atherosclerotic plaque formation and destabilization has been confirmed in several studies [20][21][22].…”