title: Serum levels of galectin-3: possible association with fibrosis, aberrant angiogenesis, and immune activation in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galectin-3 is a multifunctional protein implicated in a variety of biological processes including fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune activation, all of which are associated with the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc). We investigated the clinical significance of serum galectin-3 levels in SSc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum galectin-3 levels were determined by a specific ELISA in 58 patients with SSc and 19 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly lower in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) than in controls (3.29 ± 3.27 ng/ml vs 4.91 ± 2.67 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.05), while being comparable between limited cutaneous SSc (3.70 ± 2.39 ng/ml) and healthy controls. In dcSSc, serum galectin-3 levels significantly correlated with total skin score (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly decreased in early dcSSc (disease duration < 1 year; 1.64 ± 1.74 ng/ml; p < 0.05), but not in mid-stage dcSSc (1 to 6 years; 3.22 ± 3.16 ng/ml) or late-stage dcSSc (> 6 years; 4.86 ± 4.10 ng/ml), compared with controls. Serum galectin-3 levels were higher in SSc patients with both digital ulcers (DU) and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) than in those without each symptom (DU: 5.44 ± 3.74 ng/ml vs 2.99 ± 2.36 ng/ml, p < 0.05; elevated RVSP: 4.44 ± 3.14 ng/ml vs 2.82 ± 2.64 ng/ml, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 may be related to the developmental process of skin sclerosis in dcSSc and of DU and pulmonary vascular involvements in total SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Kaname
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akamata
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masui
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichimura
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Zenshiro
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadono
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005385:Fingers; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3