Galectin-3 binding protein plasma levels are associated with long-term mortality in coronary artery disease independent of plaque morphology.
Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) is a secreted protein associated with inflammation and carotid atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that high Gal-3BP levels may indicate unfavorable plaque morphology and outcome in coronary artery disease (CAD).



Gal-3BP plasma levels were measured by ELISA in 233 patients (63 ± 10 years, 50.2% male) undergoing computed coronary angiography tomography (CCTA).



In 149 patients, CCTA confirmed CAD (stenosis grade >20%). Mean Gal-3BP plasma levels were 5.9 ± 2.7 μg/mL and did not differ between patients with or without CAD. Over a follow-up time of up to 4.4 years (median 2.5 years), there were 17 cases of revascularization, five cases of myocardial infarction, and five deaths (four non-cardiac, one fatal myocardial infarction). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high Gal-3BP levels were significantly associated with long-term mortality (p < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that this association was independent of cardiovascular risk factors (HR 1.238, 95%-CI 1.012-1.514, p = 0.038). After adjustment for troponin T and C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, significance was lost (p = 0.123). Further analysis revealed that Gal-3BP levels were significantly related to body mass index and hs-CRP levels indicating an association with metabolic and inflammatory distress. There was no correlation between Gal-3BP and calcium score, plaque volume, or vascular remodeling.



While high Gal-3BP plasma levels are associated with long-term mortality, we could not confirm it as a marker of cardiac mortality or unstable plaque morphology.
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: christian.gleissner@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Christian A
CA
Gleissner
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Christian
C
Erbel
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Fabian
F
Linden
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Gabriele
G
Domschke
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Mohammadreza
M
Akhavanpoor
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Andreas O
AO
Doesch
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Sebastian J
SJ
Buss
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Evangelos
E
Giannitsis
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Hugo A
HA
Katus
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.
Grigorios
G
Korosoglou
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C081856:LGALS3BP protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Biomarker; CCTA; Coronary artery disease; Galectin-3 binding protein; Outcome; Plaque morphology