Galectin-3 Interacts with Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 to Increase Cardiovascular Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND

Interactions and joint effects of galectin-3 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) on risks of all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality remain unclear in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODS

Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of mortality risks were analyzed between higher and lower concentration groups of serum galectin-3 and VCAM-1. The modification effect between serum galectin-3 and VCAM-1 on mortality risk was investigated using an interaction product term.

RESULTS

During follow-up, galectin-3 and VCAM-1 were associated with incremental risks of all-cause mortality (aHR: 1.038 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001⁻1.077) and 1.002 (95% CI: 1.001⁻1.003), respectively). Nonetheless, VCAM-1 but not galectin-3 predicted CV mortality (aHR: 1.043 (95% CI: 0.993⁻1.096) and 1.002 (95% CI: 1.001⁻1.003), respectively). In the interaction analysis, patients with combined higher galectin-3 (>29.5 ng/mL) and VCAM-1 (>1546.9 ng/mL) were at the greatest risk of all-cause and CV mortality (aHR: 4.6 (95% CI: 1.6⁻13.4), and 4.2 (95% CI: 1.3⁻14.4), respectively). The interactions between galectin-3 and VCAM-1 with respect to all-cause and CV mortality were statistically significant ( < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Galectin-3 and VCAM-1 could serve as a promising dual biomarker for prognostic assessment, considering their joint effects on pathogenesis of leukocyte trafficking and atherothrombosis.