Serum galectin 3, galectin 9 and galectin 3-binding proteins in patients with active and inactive inflammatory bowel disease.

Galectins are lectins involved in physiological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration, immune responses, inflammation, signalling, and angiogenesis. This study assessed the serum levels of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and galectin-3 (Gal-9) and galectin 3 binding protein (Gal-3BP), and evaluated their associations with the clinical characteristics and levels of inflammatory markers in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 48 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 77 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 30 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Complete blood counts, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin, glucose, creatinine, Gal-3, Gal-9, and Gal-3BP were measured. The median Gal-3 and Gal-9 levels did not differ between patients and controls. The median level of Gal-3BP was significantly higher in patients with CD than in controls (8084.6 (5637.8 - 11494.4) ng/ml versus 5962.2 (5280.15 - 7247.92) ng/ml, P = 0.02). No significant differences in Gal-3, Gal-9, and Gal-3BP between active and inactive CD and UC subgroups were found. The median Gal-3BP was higher in subgroups with active CD than in controls (8175.9 (5736.4 - 12871.62) ng/ml versus 5962.2 (5280.15 - 7247.92) ng/ml, P = 0.004). Our results showed that serum Gal-3 and Gal-9 should not be considered biomarkers of IBD. Despite not being a specific marker for CD, serum Gal-3BP might be used as an adjuvant biomarker for disease activity. However, further studies using a larger cohort are required to confirm its clinical usefulness.