Abstract
Galectin-3, which is a novel biomarker of cardiovascular stress and related to inflammation, could predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, its relationship with endothelial function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum galectin-3 levels and endothelial function in patients with stages 3–5 CKD. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 130 patients. Serum galectin-3 levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endothelial function, demonstrated as a vascular reactivity index (VRI), was measured noninvasively through digital thermal monitoring test. Then, we sorted the patients into poor, intermediate, and good vascular reactivity (VRI < 1.0, 1.0 ≤ VRI < 2.0, and VRI ≥ 2.0), accounting for 24 (18.5%), 44 (33.8%), and 62 (47.7%) patients, respectively. As the VRI decreased, the serum galectin-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels significantly increased. The galectin-3 value positively correlated with the CRP value but negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate. In multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis, serum log-transformed galectin-3 level and log-transformed CRP were significantly negatively associated with VRI values. Therefore, galectin-3 together with CRP is associated with VRI values and is a potential endothelial function modulator and a valuable biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, as the number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progressively increased, the number of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes increased; multiple studies have been concentrating on interventions against cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with traditional [1,2,3] as well as CKD-specific factors such as inflammation, abnormal bone and mineral metabolism, and endothelial damage or dysfunction [4,5]
Galectin-3 is a novel 35 kDa, soluble β-galactoside-binding lectin expressed by epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages, with multiple biological abilities, including cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, and inflammation; it has been related to cardiac fibrosis and heart failure and even long-term adverse prognosis of the general population [14] and patients with chronic heart failure [14,15], diabetes mellitus (DM) [16], or CKD [17,18]
Given that galectin-3 is involved in endothelial dysfunction, we aimed to examine the association between serum galectin-3 levels and endothelial function and the possible clinical risk factors for endothelial dysfunction measured by a digital thermal monitoring (DTM) test in patients with CKD
Summary
Over the past few decades, as the number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progressively increased, the number of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes increased; multiple studies have been concentrating on interventions against cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with traditional [1,2,3] as well as CKD-specific factors such as inflammation, abnormal bone and mineral metabolism, and endothelial damage or dysfunction [4,5]. All of these risk factors could contribute to atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, and CV complications. The incidence of CVD increases, indicating that galectin-3 participates in CVD development
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