Galectin-3 in diabetic patients

摘要: Galectin-3 is a versatile molecule which exerts several and sometimes opposite functions in various pathophysiological processes. Recently, galectin-3 has gained attention as powerful predictor of heart fail- ure mortality, thus becoming useful prognostic marker clinical practice. Moreover, though not spe- cifically investigated diabetic cohorts, plasma levels correlated with the prevalence diabetes related metabolic conditions, suggesting that phar- macological blockade this lectin might be successful for treating failure especially subjects suffering from these disorders. Indeed, considered only failure, but also mediator disease, due to its pro-fibrotic action, evidence comes mainly studies deficient mice. However, have provided contrasting results, either attenuation or acceleration organ fibrosis inflammation, depending on experimental set- ting particularly advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs)/advanced lipoxidation endprod- ucts (ALEs), scavenging receptor. In fact, under conditions increased AGE/ALE levels, ablation was associated tissue-specific outcomes, reflecting AGE/ALE-receptor function lectin. Conversely, models acute inflammation fibrosis, deficiency resulted tissue injury. There need prospec- tive patients specifically investigating relation complications further animal order establish effective role damage before considering pharmacological setting.