Associations of galectin-3 expression and LGALS-3 (rs4652) gene variant with coronary artery disease risk in diabetics.

BACKGROUND

Galectin-3 protein encoded by lectin galactoside-binding soluble-3 (LGALS-3) gene is an important genetic factor in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its cardiovascular obstacles in various populations. We aimed to elicit the pro-inflammatory effect of galectin-3 as determined by interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels and to explore the relationship between galectin-3 (LGALS-3 rs4652) gene variant and its expression levels with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk among T2DM Egyptian patients.

METHODS

112 lean subjects were compared to 100 T2DM without CAD and 84 T2DM with CAD. A tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction was used to test LGALS-3 (rs4652), and galectin3 expression was tested with a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum IL-6 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

We found that the prevalence of LGALS-3 (rs4652) AC genotype and galectin-3 gene expression levels in T2DM with CAD were significantly higher than the additional 2 groups and were correlated positively to IL-6 circulating levels. Also, the C allele carriers (AC+CC) had significantly higher relative Galectin-3 expression levels compared to the A allele carriers (AA).

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that galectin-3 expression levels and LGALS-3 (rs4652) AC genotype were coronary artery disease risk factors in people with type two diabetes among an Egyptian sample.