Original Article
Physiologic determinants of serum galectin-3 in a general healthy population
Abstract
Background: Growing evidence suggests that the protein galectin-3 may promote fibrosis and cardiac remodeling, thus being currently considered one of the most promising biomarkers for risk stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or heart failure. Therefore, this study was planned to identify the main physiological determinants of serum galectin-3 in a reference population of middle-aged healthy subjects.
Methods: The study population consisted of 44 healthy volunteers [14 males and 30 females; mean age, 47±11 years; body mass index (BMI), 23.6±3.6 kg/m2], recruited from the personnel of the local laboratory. Demographical and biochemical measures were recorded early in the morning and potential associations with serum galectin-3 values were tested with both univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.
Results: In univariate analysis, the concentration of serum galectin-3 was found to be significantly associated with both BMI and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but not with age, sex, serum albumin, serum cardiac troponin T, hemoglobin and red blood cell distribution width. In multivariate analysis, the concentration of serum galectin-3 remained inversely associated with eGFR, but not with BMI. The median value of galectin-3 was found to be significantly different across quartiles of eGFR (P=0.046).
Results: The results of our study suggest that the serum concentration of galectin-3 in a population of middle-aged healthy subjects may be influenced by renal function, but not by age, sex, BMI, liver function and hemoglobin concentration.
Methods: The study population consisted of 44 healthy volunteers [14 males and 30 females; mean age, 47±11 years; body mass index (BMI), 23.6±3.6 kg/m2], recruited from the personnel of the local laboratory. Demographical and biochemical measures were recorded early in the morning and potential associations with serum galectin-3 values were tested with both univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.
Results: In univariate analysis, the concentration of serum galectin-3 was found to be significantly associated with both BMI and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but not with age, sex, serum albumin, serum cardiac troponin T, hemoglobin and red blood cell distribution width. In multivariate analysis, the concentration of serum galectin-3 remained inversely associated with eGFR, but not with BMI. The median value of galectin-3 was found to be significantly different across quartiles of eGFR (P=0.046).
Results: The results of our study suggest that the serum concentration of galectin-3 in a population of middle-aged healthy subjects may be influenced by renal function, but not by age, sex, BMI, liver function and hemoglobin concentration.
