title: Galectin-3 in cord blood of term and preterm infants.
abstract: In recent years galectin-3 has gained attention as a signalling molecule, mainly in inflammatory diseases. Data on galectin-3 expression in neonates, however, are limited, and expression of this lectin in cord blood has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to determine galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term and preterm neonates as well as galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term neonates after stimulation with the prevalent pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae. Cord blood samples were incubated for 24 h and galectin-3 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There is a positive correlation between gestational age and galectin-3 levels in cord blood. Expression of galectin-3 is significantly higher in cord blood of small-for-gestational-age infants compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Stimulation with an invasive but not with a colonizing strain of S. agalactiae induced expression of galectin-3. Galectin-3 is expressed constitutively in cord blood of neonates and seems to play a role in the innate immunity of this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demmert
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bohlmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tröger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Göpel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herting
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Härtel
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3