title: Structural myocardial alterations in diabetes and hypertension: the role of galectin-3.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Galectin-3 is a protein widely distributed in the heart, brain and blood vessels, and has a regulatory role in inflammation, immunology and cancer. Many studies demonstrated that the increased level of galectin-3 is associated with progressive fibrosis and stiffening of the myocardium. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of galectin-3 in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or arterial hypertension (HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study population included 189 patients, with no coronary artery disease, divided into three groups: group 1 (T2D), group 2 (T2D+HT), and group 3 (HT). All subjects underwent routine laboratory tests, as well as specific biomarkers assessment [galectin-3, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), N- terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)]. Cardiological evaluation included physical examination, transthoracic tissue Doppler echocardiography and stress echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study demonstrated significantly increased levels of galectin-3, blood glucose, and HbA1c in group 2. Also, echocardiographicaly, left ventricular (LV) diameters and IVS thickness were increased in this group of patients. Furthermore, in the same cohort a positive correlation between galectin-3 and NT-pro BNP, and galectin-3 and LV mass were demonstrated. In addition, a negative correlation between galectin-3 and LV end-diastolic diameter was revealed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that levels of galectin-3 were higher in patients with both T2D and HT, and correlated with LV mass, indicating the potential role of this biomarker for early detection of myocardial structural and functional alterations.
authors.forename: Jelena P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Seferovic
authors.forename: Nebojsa M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lalic
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Floridi
authors.forename: Milorad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tesic
authors.forename: Petar M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Seferovic
authors.forename: Vojislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giga
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lalic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotic
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jovicic
authors.forename: Emina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cardelli
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Somma
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3