Galectin-3, a prognostic marker--and a therapeutic target?

Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia : Orgão Oficial Da Sociedade Portuguesa De Cardiologia = Portuguese Journal of Cardiology : an Official Journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
Ana Rita Pereira, Luiz Menezes Falcão

Abstract

The natriuretic peptides BNP and NT-proBNP are currently the most commonly used biomarkers in heart failure, but they have limitations. There is thus a need to identify new biomarkers that may prove useful, alone or in combination, for screening, diagnosis and prognosis. Galectin-3 is a protein involved in a variety of cellular signaling pathways and is found in many tissues. Its expression is low in normal hearts but elevated in fibrotic hearts. Among other effects, it promotes fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, contributing to the cardiac remodeling that is central to the development and progression of heart failure. Heart failure associated with elevated galectin-3 (>17.8 ng/ml) affects 30-50% of patients with chronic heart failure, and is a marker of worse prognosis, with higher rates of short-term rehospitalization and mortality. It is thought that galectin-3 inhibition, or even genetic disruption, may reverse or delay disease progression. Galectin-3 appears to have greater prognostic value than natriuretic peptides when assessed separately, however, when combined their prognostic value is even higher. Galectin-3, associated with BNP or NT-proBNP, may help improve the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure.

References

Aug 9, 2002·European Journal of Heart Failure·Fátima CeiaUNKNOWN EPICA Investigators
Sep 19, 2006·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Roland R van KimmenadeYigal M Pinto
Jun 14, 2008·Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine·Ri-Yao YangFu-Tong Liu
Aug 4, 2009·European Journal of Heart Failure·Rudolf A de BoerDirk J van Veldhuisen
Feb 5, 2010·Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society·Dirk J A LokDirk J van Veldhuisen
Apr 29, 2010·Current Heart Failure Reports·Rudolf A de BoerDirk J van Veldhuisen
Dec 30, 2010·Annals of Medicine·Rudolf A de BoerDirk J van Veldhuisen
Oct 22, 2011·Circulation. Heart Failure·G Michael FelkerChristopher M O'Connor
Oct 27, 2011·Journal of Internal Medicine·R A de BoerP van der Harst
Jun 7, 2013·Circulation·UNKNOWN WRITING COMMITTEE MEMBERSUNKNOWN American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 15, 2015·American Journal of Therapeutics·André Miguel Ramos Travessa, Luiz Filipe de Menezes Falcão
Aug 5, 2021·Transgenic Research·Kan ChenChangqian Wang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anemia

Anemia develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. Here is the latest research on anemia.

Cardiac Remodeling

Cardiac remodeling in response to a myocardial infarction is characterized by progressive ventricular dilatation, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and deterioration of cardiac performance. Discover the latest research on Cardiac Remodeling here.