Galectin-3 expression is induced in cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma

Soluble ST2 and Galectin-3 as Predictors of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) and galectin-3, novel biomarkers of heart failure and cardiovascular stress, predict cardiovascular events (CVEs) and mortality. However, their relationship with kidney function and adverse outcomes in CKD are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sST2 and galectin-3 with CKD progression and adverse clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We measured baseline sST2 and galectin-3 levels in the CKD patient cohort at our institution between October 2013 and December 2014. The primary outcome was CKD progression (kidney failure with replacement therapy or ≥50% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate from the baseline). The secondary outcome was the composite of CVEs and death. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the associations between sST2 and galectin-3 levels, with kidney and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 352 patients were enrolled in this study. At baseline, log sST2 and galectin-3 were directly associated with the serum creatinine (Cr) and urine protein-to-Cr ratio. Cox regression analysis showed that the baseline log sST2 level independently predicted CKD progression and composite outcome after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renin-angiotensin system blocker, calcium channel blocker, β-blocker, diuretics, antiplatelet agents, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia. The baseline log galectin-3 level was independently associated with CKD progression, but not with the composite outcome after adjustment for confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of sST2 and galectin-3 are significantly associated with CKD progression, but only sST2 is associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

Advances in research on relationship between galectin-3 and liver diseases

Galectin-3, having an apparent molecular weight between 29 and 35 kDa, is a member of a galectin family of mammalian carbohydrate-binding proteins consisting so far of 14 reported members. Galectin-3 is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and may translocate to the perinuclear membrane, nucleus and get secreted into the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and adhesion, immune responses, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and tumor progression and metastasis. Furthermore, galectin-3 can act as a receptor for advanced glycation end-products. Recent studies have shown that galectin-3 is associated with many hepatic diseases, such as fatty liver disease, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Here, we will review the relationship between galectin-3 and hepatic diseases.