The Role of Serum Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Sarcoidosis

Abstract

introduction: Galectin-3 is a multi-functional protein and previous studies have suggested that levels of serum galectin-3 increase in the presence of diseases that progress with pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, the role of galectin-3 levels in the staging and assessing of the severity of sarcoidosis is investigated in the present study. Methods and Subjects: The present study was conducted on a total of 73 subjects, including 25 healthy individuals and 48 patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of sarcoidosis in which other potential causes had been ruled out. Galectin-3 levels of all subjects were measured and compared in terms of such parameters as hemogram, biochemistry, age, body mass index and smoking status. Intervention: In our study, no intervention was made to the patients. Main Outcome Measures: The mean galectin-3 levels of the sarcoidosis patients (14.87±5.57) were significantly higher than those measured in the healthy subjects (11.81± 2.67), and themean galectin-3 levels differed significantly among those at different stages of the disease (p<0.05). In particular, the average level of galectin-3 sarcoidosis patients had grade 2 and above significantly higher. Results: In addition, serum galectin-3 levels in the sarcoidosis patients had significant positive correlations with blood BUN, ALP, WBC, RBC, HGB and neutrophil levels (34.9% [p<0.05]; 40.1% [p<0.05]; 41.2% [p<0.01]; 43.3% [p<0.01]; 34.7% [p<0.05] and 40.6% [p<0.01], respectively),and a significant negative correlation with PDW levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: Serum galectin-3 levels are significantly elevated in sarcoidosis patients with parenchymal involvement at stages 2 or higher, suggesting that serum galectin-3 levels can be used to estimate disease severity in sarcoidosis.

Phenotypes and Serum Biomarkers in Sarcoidosis

“…In a cohort study conducted in Turkey, serum levels of galectin-3 were found to be significantly higher in sarcoidosis patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, these levels were particularly elevated in patients at stage 2 or higher of the disease [83].…”

Personalized medicine in sarcoidosis: unravelling biomarkers for targeted care

“…Serum 3 Galectin is a β-galactoside-binding animal lectin involved in various processes such as cell growth, angiogenesis and inflammation. Mean galectin levels are significantly higher in patients with pulmonary parenchymal involvement; thus, it is particularly associated with patients in stage II, III or IV of the Scadding classification [24 ▪▪ ].…”

Metabolism-driven glycosylation represents therapeutic opportunities in interstitial lung diseases

“…B4GALT1, an enzyme that synthesizes LacNAC, is found to be overexpressed in patients with IPF ( 86 ). Moreover, level of galectin 3 (GAL3), is increased in patients of pulmonary sarcoidosis ( 87 ) and fibrosis ( 88 ) and targeting GAL3 by small molecule inhibitors was showed efficacious in mouse models of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis ( 89 ). Recent studies have linked LacNAc and LacdiNAc dissacharides with the process of granuloma formation, suggesting a pro-inflammatory role for these molecules ( 84 ) in IPF and sarcoidosis.…”