RATIONALE Galectin-1 is a carbohydrate-binding protein involved in apoptosis, cell-proliferation and differentiation, implicated in T-cell homeostasis and survival. The aim of the present study was to determine concentrations of galectin-1 in BAL fluid from patients with IPF and other interstitial lung diseases in order to validate proteomic previous findings. METHODS 36 IPF patients (16 females, mean age of 64.8 ± 8.9 years), 24 sarcoidosis patients (15 females, mean age of 56.3 ± 13.4), 7 interstitial lung diseases associated to systemic sclerosis (ILD-SSc) patients (5 females, mean age of 55.5 ± 16.4) and six healthy controls (4 females, mean age 47.8 ± 15.2) were included. Galectin-1 concentrations were determined in BAL samples by an ELISA assay. RESULTS Galectin-1 concentrations were significantly higher in BAL of IPF patients than in sarcoidosis and ILD-SSc patients and healthy controls. In IPF patients, galectin-1 levels showed significant inverse correlations with DLCO%, KCO% and BAL lymphocyte percentages and a positive correlation with BAL macrophage percentages. Former IPF smokers had higher concentrations of this protein compared with non-smoker IPF patients. CONCLUSION Galectin-1 was confirmed a protein of interest in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Its BAL concentrations were higher in IPF patients than in controls and correlated with disease severity. Galectin-1 was suggested to have a role in the pathogenesis of IPF, principally through the ERK/MAPK pathway and the inhibition of galectin-1 is a potential therapeutic target worthy of research.

中文翻译：

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特发性肺纤维化患者支气管肺泡灌洗液中Galectin-1水平升高。

RATIONALE Galectin-1是一种碳水化合物结合蛋白，参与细胞凋亡，细胞增殖和分化，与T细胞稳态和生存有关。本研究的目的是确定IPF和其他间质性肺疾病患者BAL液中半乳糖凝集素1的浓度，以验证以前的蛋白质组学发现。方法36例IPF患者（16名女性，平均年龄64.8±8.9岁），24结节病患者（15名女性，平均年龄56.3±13.4），7种与系统性硬化症（ILD-SSc）相关的间质性肺疾病（5名女性，平均年龄55.5±16.4）和六个健康对照组（4名女性，平均年龄47.8±15.2）。通过ELISA测定BAL样品中Galectin-1的浓度。结果IPF患者的BAL中Galectin-1的浓度显着高于结节病，ILD-SSc患者和健康对照组。在IPF患者中，galectin-1水平与DLCO％，KCO％和BAL淋巴细胞百分比呈显着负相关，与BAL巨噬细胞百分比呈正相关。与不吸烟的IPF患者相比，前IPF吸烟者具有较高的这种蛋白质浓度。结论Galectin-1被证实是特发性肺纤维化的重要蛋白。IPF患者的BAL浓度高于对照组，并且与疾病严重程度相关。有人建议Galectin-1主要通过ERK / MAPK途径在IPF的发病机制中起作用，而Galectin-1的抑制是值得研究的潜在治疗靶点。