title: Is galectin-3 a biomarker, a player-or both-in the presence of coronary atherosclerosis?
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a complex process mediated by leukocytes, macrophages and various inflammatory markers. Galectin-3 is secreted by activated macrophages and is involved in cardiac fibrosis, cardiac remodeling, and inflammation. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and serum galectin-3 levels. The study included 82 patients with CAD confirmed via coronary angiography and 82 healthy participants as control group. Angiographic CAD was defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of at least one major epicardial coronary artery. The severity of CAD was determined by the Gensini score; and the serum galectin-3 levels were measured via ELISA. Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in the patient group with CAD than in the control group (12.96±4.92 vs 5.52±1.9 ng/mL, p<0.001). In the correlation analysis, serum galectin-3 showed significant correlation with the Gensini score (r=0.715, p<0.001), number of diseased vessels (r=0.752, p<0.001) and serum hs-CRP level (r=0.607, p<0.001). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum galectin-3 levels were significant and independent predictors of the presence of angiographic CAD (OR=3.933, 95% CI 2.395 to 6.457; p<0.001). In the present study, the serum galectin-3 levels were higher in the patients with CAD than in healthy controls. Also, serum galectin-3 levels showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of CAD. An increased serum galectin-3 level may be considered an important activator and a marker of the atherosclerotic inflammatory process in CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Gedikli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kudret
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aksaray State Hospital, Aksaray, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: İnci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süleyman Sezai
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul Bilim University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Korhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadriye Orta
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Kılıçkesmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Şahin
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Coronary Artery Disease; Inflammation