Serum Levels of Galectin-3: Possible Association with Fibrosis, Aberrant Angiogenesis, and Immune Activation in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

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 deSSc, serum galectin-3 levels significantly correlated with total skin score (r = (1.45, 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 deSSc (1 to 6 years; 3.22 +/- 3.16 ng/ml) or late-stage cleSSc (> 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). Conclusion. Galectin-3 may be related to the developmental process of skin sclerosis in deSSc and of DU and pulmonary vascular involvements in total SSc. (First Release Jan 15 2012; J Rheumatol 2012;39:539-44; doi:10.3899/jrheum.110755)