Galectin-3: a modifiable risk factor in heart failure.
Myocardial galectin-3 is upregulated upon cardiac stressors such as angiotensin II and pressure overload leading to cardiac remodeling and heart failure. The expression level of galectin-3 mirrors the progression and severity of heart failure and therefore, galectin-3 is being used as a biomarker for heart failure. However, as galectin-3 is causally involved in pathological myocardial fibrosis it has been suggested that galectin-3 also actively contributes to heart failure development. In this review we discuss how galectin-3 could be a target for therapy in heart failure. Currently, attempts are being made to target or inhibit galectin-3 using natural or pharmaceutical inhibitors with the aim to ameliorate heart failure. Available experimental evidence suggests that galectin-3 inhibition indeed may represent a novel tool to treat heart failure. A strong interaction with aldosterone, another strong pro-fibrotic factor, has been described. Clinical studies are needed to prove if galectin-3 may be used to install specific treatment regimens.
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands, r.a.de.boer@umcg.nl.
Rudolf A
RA
de Boer
A Rogier
AR
van der Velde
Christian
C
Mueller
Dirk J
DJ
van Veldhuisen
Stefan D
SD
Anker
W Frank
WF
Peacock
Kirkwood F
KF
Adams
Alan
A
Maisel
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015195:Drug Design; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3