Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is an arboviral disease that has caused an epidemic burst of chronic inflammatory joint disease in Latin America in the last few years. Efforts are being spent in understanding the mechanisms by which it may cause such articular damage and in determining possible biomarkers of the disease. Galectins (GAL) are a family of animal lectins with an affinity for beta-galactosides. They have multiple functions including working as receptors in innate immunity and as a control for inflammatory responses in both innate and adaptive immunity. They regulate functions of immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, which have a main role in the chikungunya inflammatory process. Galectins are also involved in chronification of viral diseases, participate in the immunopathogenesis of chronic joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and have a role in inflammation in other arboviral diseases, such as dengue. Thus, we intended to determine the serum levels of galectin-1, -3, -4, -7, and -9 in patients with subacute and chronic articular manifestations of CHIKF and to evaluate their associations with clinical manifestations. We evaluated 44 patients with clinical manifestations of CHIKF and serological confirmation with IgM and/or IgG chikungunya virus (CHIKV) antibodies. Forty-nine age- and gender-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Anti−CHIKV IgM and IgG antibodies and galectins serum levels were measured by ELISA. We found higher levels of GAL-9 (patients median 2192 [1500–2631] pg/mL, controls median 46.88 [46.88−46.88] pg/mL, p < 0.0001) and lower levels of GAL-3 (patients median 235.5 [175.5–351.8] pg/mL, controls median 2236.0 [1256.0–2236.0] pg/mL, p < 0.0001) in patients than in controls. There was no statistical difference in levels of GAL-1, -4 and -7 between patients and control groups. There was no difference in GAL-9 serum levels between patients with subacute or chronic symptoms (median 2148 [1500–2722] pg/mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg/mL, p = 0.3626). A significant association of GAL-9 with joint stiffness, both in its duration and intensity, was found. These results may reflect the participation of GAL-9 in the immunopathogenesis of the inflammatory process in chikungunya fever, as morning stiffness may reflect the systemic inflammatory process.

基孔肯雅热（CHIKF）是一种虫媒病毒病，在过去的几年中，该病已导致拉丁美洲的慢性炎症性关节病大面积流行。人们正在努力了解它可能导致此类关节损伤的机制，并确定该疾病的可能生物标志物。半乳凝素（GAL）是对β-半乳糖苷具有亲和力的动物凝集素家族。它们具有多种功能，包括作为先天免疫的受体，以及作为先天免疫和适应性免疫中炎症反应的对照。它们调节免疫细胞的功能，例如淋巴细胞和巨噬细胞，它们在基孔肯雅热炎症过程中起主要作用。半乳凝素也参与病毒性疾病的慢性化，参与类风湿性关节炎等慢性关节疾病的免疫发病机制，并在登革热等其他虫媒病毒疾病中起炎症作用。因此，我们打算确定患有CHIKF的亚急性和慢性关节表现的患者的半乳糖凝集素-1，-3，-4，-7和-9的血清水平，并评估其与临床表现的关联。我们评估了44例具有CHIKF临床表现并用IgM和/或IgG基孔肯雅病毒（CHIKV）抗体进行血清学确认的患者。年龄和性别匹配的四十九名健康个体作为对照。通过ELISA测量抗CHIKV IgM和IgG抗体以及半乳凝素的血清水平。我们发现GAL-9水平更高（患者中位数为2192 [1500–2631] pg / mL，对照中位数为46.88 [46.88-46.88] pg / mL，p <0。0001）和GAL-3水平较低（患者中位数为235.5 [175.5-351.8] pg / mL，对照组中位数为2236.0 [1256.0-2236.0] pg / mL，p <0.0001）。患者和对照组之间的GAL-1，-4和-7水平没有统计学差异。亚急性或慢性症状患者之间的GAL-9血清水平没有差异（中位值为2148 [1500–2722] pg / mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg / mL，p = 0.3626）。发现GAL-9与关节僵硬度在持续时间和强度上均存在显着关联。这些结果可能反映了GAL-9参与基孔肯雅热发炎过程的免疫发病机制，因为早晨僵硬可能反映了全身性发炎过程。0001）的患者比对照组。患者和对照组之间的GAL-1，-4和-7水平没有统计学差异。亚急性或慢性症状患者之间的GAL-9血清水平没有差异（中位值为2148 [1500–2722] pg / mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg / mL，p = 0.3626）。发现GAL-9与关节僵硬度在持续时间和强度上均存在显着关联。这些结果可能反映了GAL-9参与基孔肯雅热发炎过程的免疫发病机制，因为早晨僵硬可能反映了全身性发炎过程。0001）的患者比对照组。患者和对照组之间的GAL-1，-4和-7水平没有统计学差异。亚急性或慢性症状患者之间的GAL-9血清水平无差异（中位值为2148 [1500–2722] pg / mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg / mL，p = 0.3626）。发现GAL-9与关节僵硬度在持续时间和强度上均存在显着关联。这些结果可能反映了GAL-9参与基孔肯雅热发炎过程的免疫发病机制，因为早晨僵硬可能反映了全身性发炎过程。亚急性或慢性症状患者之间的GAL-9血清水平没有差异（中位值为2148 [1500–2722] pg / mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg / mL，p = 0.3626）。发现GAL-9与关节僵硬度在持续时间和强度上均存在显着关联。这些结果可能反映了GAL-9参与基孔肯雅热发炎过程的免疫发病机制，因为早晨僵硬可能反映了全身性发炎过程。亚急性或慢性症状患者之间的GAL-9血清水平没有差异（中位值为2148 [1500–2722] pg / mL x 2212 [1844–2500] pg / mL，p = 0.3626）。发现GAL-9与关节僵硬度在持续时间和强度上均存在显着关联。这些结果可能反映了GAL-9参与基孔肯雅热发炎过程的免疫发病机制，因为早晨僵硬可能反映了全身性发炎过程。