Serum Galectin-3 Level Is Positively Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 to 5

Abstract

Galectin-3, which is a novel biomarker of cardiovascular stress and related to inflammation, could predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, its relationship with endothelial function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum galectin-3 levels and endothelial function in patients with stages 3–5 CKD. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 130 patients. Serum galectin-3 levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endothelial function, demonstrated as a vascular reactivity index (VRI), was measured noninvasively through digital thermal monitoring test. Then, we sorted the patients into poor, intermediate, and good vascular reactivity (VRI < 1.0, 1.0 ≤ VRI < 2.0, and VRI ≥ 2.0), accounting for 24 (18.5%), 44 (33.8%), and 62 (47.7%) patients, respectively. As the VRI decreased, the serum galectin-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels significantly increased. The galectin-3 value positively correlated with the CRP value but negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate. In multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis, serum log-transformed galectin-3 level and log-transformed CRP were significantly negatively associated with VRI values. Therefore, galectin-3 together with CRP is associated with VRI values and is a potential endothelial function modulator and a valuable biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD.

Advancement of anti‐LAG‐3 in cancer therapy

“…In addition, despite the fact that LAG-3 single knockout presents negligible immunopathological consequences, 71 some LAG-3-paired ligands are not only presented in the tumor microenvironment but also in other tissue cells. For example, both FGL1 and LSECtin are expressed on hepatocytes under normal physiological conditions, 55,57,72,73 whereas Gal-3 is secreted by various immune cells, 74 epithelial cells, 75 endothelial cells, 76 and microglia. 77,78 Besides, α-synuclein is also a controversial ligand of LAG-3 that is expressed on neurons.…”

The potential roles of galectin-3 in AKI and CKD

“…In addition, a cohort study of 2,477 participants showed that greater longitudinal increase in plasma Gal3 concentration was associated with increased incidence of heart failure and all-cause mortality (Ghorbani et al, 2018). In a study of 130 patients with CKD, serum Gal3 concentrations were directly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and inversely correlated with eGFR, while higher serum Gal3 and CRP concentrations were associated with vascular reactivity index, a measure of endothelial dysfunction (Hsu et al, 2021).…”

Cardiomyopathy in chronic kidney disease: clinical features, biomarkers and the contribution of murine models in understanding pathophysiology

“…Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactoside-binding lectin that is released from injured and inflammatory cells and a biomarker of heart failure and myocardial infarction in the general population [ 69 ], is positively associated with both LVH [ 70 ] and adverse vascular outcomes in CKD patients, e.g. endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular reactivity [ 71 ]. The main pathophysiological role of Gal-3 is described as promoting fibrosis in both cardiac and kidney tissue by inducing fibroblast proliferation but also collagen deposition.…”