Introduction

Galectins are proteins that bind β-galactosides such as N-acetylactosamine present in N-linked and O-linked glycoproteins and that seem to be implicated fibrotic mechanisms. Here we aimed to define the role of serum galectins in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) by comparison with other chronic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and healthy subjects.

Methods

Forty-one fibrotic ILD patients (median age (IQR), 65 years (20); 50 % male) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood concentrations of galectins-1, 3 and 9 were determined with commercial ELISA kits.

Results

Galectin-1 and 9 concentrations were higher in the ILD group than in healthy controls (p = 0.0318 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Galectin-3 was also higher in ILD patients (borderline significant p = 0.0617). In particular, significantly higher Gal-1 concentrations were found in sarcoidosis and NSIP patients (p = 0.0418 and p = 0.0015, respectively), while Gal-9 concentrations were significantly higher in all ILD subgroups. Specific cut-offs for all galectins were calculated by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Several correlations with lung function parameters were found.

Discussion

Galectins 1, 3 and 9 concentrations were found altered in serum of ILD patients suggesting their potential utility as clinical, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Inhibition of galectins may be useful in the therapeutic management of pulmonary fibrosis. Further studies on larger case series would be worthwhile.

中文翻译：

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Galactin-1、3 和 9：特发性肺纤维化和其他间质性肺疾病的潜在生物标志物。

介绍

半乳糖凝集素是结合 β-半乳糖苷的蛋白质，例如存在于 N-连接和 O-连接糖蛋白中的 N-乙酰乳糖胺，似乎与纤维化机制有关。在这里，我们旨在通过与其他慢性间质性肺病 (ILD) 和健康受试者进行比较，确定血清半乳糖凝集素在特发性肺纤维化和特发性非特异性间质性肺炎 (NSIP) 中的作用。

方法

41 名纤维化 ILD 患者（中位年龄(IQR)，65 岁(20)；50% 男性）参加了该研究。半乳糖凝集素-1、3 和 9 的外周血浓度用商业 ELISA 试剂盒测定。

结果

ILD 组的半乳糖凝集素 1 和 9 浓度高于健康对照组（分别为 p = 0.0318 和 p < 0.0001）。ILD 患者的半乳糖凝集素 3 也较高（临界显着 p = 0.0617）。特别是，在结节病和 NSIP 患者中发现了显着更高的 Gal-1 浓度（分别为 p = 0.0418 和 p = 0.0015），而在所有 ILD 亚组中，Gal-9 浓度显着更高。通过受试者工作曲线 (ROC) 分析计算所有半乳糖凝集素的特定临界值。发现了与肺功能参数的几个相关性。

讨论

在 ILD 患者的血清中发现半乳糖凝集素 1、3 和 9 浓度发生变化，表明它们作为临床、诊断和预后生物标志物的潜在用途。抑制半乳糖凝集素可用于肺纤维化的治疗管理。对更大的案例系列进行进一步研究将是值得的。