The relationship between serum galectin-3 and serum markers of cardiac extracellular matrix turnover in heart failure patients.
BACKGROUND
A growing body of evidence links macrophage activation and fibrosis to the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). Galectin-3 is one of the most likely mediators between macrophage activation and myocardial fibrosis. However, the exact relationship is unknown in humans. We assessed the impact of galectin-3 on serum markers of cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover in HF patients.


METHODS
Patients with HF manifestations and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <or=50% were enrolled in this study. Gender, age, medications, serum biochemical data, and outcomes of heart failure were recorded. Serum galectin-3, extracellular matrix including type I and III aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen (PINP and PIIINP), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 106 (83 males and 23 females) patients were enrolled. The age was 61+/-16 y and LVEF was 35+/-9%. Their mean NYHA functional class was 2.2. Log galectin-3 was significantly correlated with log PIIINP (p=0.006), log TIMP-1 (p=0.025), log MMP-2 (p=0.016), and NYHA functional class (p=0.034); but not age, sex or LVEF. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and LVEF, the relationship between galectin-3 and ECM turnover biomarkers (including PIIINP, TIMP, and MMP-2) remained significant. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and NYHA functional class, the relationship between galectin-3 and PIIINP or MMP-2 remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Galectin-3 is significantly correlated with serum markers of cardiac ECM turnover in HF patients. This implies a relationship between macrophage activation and ECM turnover in patients with HF.
Lin
Yen-Hung
YH
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
Lian-Yu
LY
Wu
Yen-Wen
YW
Chien
Kuo-Liong
KL
Lee
Chi-Ming
CM
Hsu
Ron-Bin
RB
Chao
Chia-Lun
CL
Wang
Shoei-Shen
SS
Hsein
Yenh-Chen
YC
Liao
Lin-Chu
LC
Ho
Yi-Lwun
YL
Chen
Ming-Fong
MF
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3