Galectin-1: a biomarker of surgical stress in murine model of cardiac surgery

Abstract

Galectin-1 (GAL-1) belongs to the family of β-galactoside-binding lectins. It regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, the immune response, apoptosis, cell cycle, RNA splicing and neoplastic transformation. We investigate the effect of heart manipulation secondary to cardiac surgery on the level of GAL-1 in murine heart and plasma. Male C57B6/J mice were used for adopted model of cardiac surgery. Heart samples were processed for immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent labeling, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative RT-PCR to identify GAL-1 levels in the heart and plasma during the first 24 hours following cardiac surgery. There is significant increase of GAL-1 in the LV at 30 minutes (P<0.000), 60 minutes (P<0.001), 4 hour (P<0.003), and 24 hour (P<0.003) time points of surgically operated groups compared to non-operated control group, while GAL-1 mRNA levels in any of the surgically operated groups are not significantly different from the non-operated group suggesting extracardiac origin of this raise of GAL-1. There is significant increase of GAL-1 in the plasma at 30 minutes (P<0.000), 60 minutes (P<0.009), 4 hour (P<0.043), and 24 hour (P<0.000) time points of surgically operated groups compared to non-operated control group. In conclusion, GAL-1 is valuable biomarker of surgical stress.

Keywords: Heart; galectin-1; surgical stress.

Figure 1

Graphical representation of the Galectin-1 levels in the LV at different post operated time points. *Shows P<0.05 in non-operated control vs surgically operated groups.

Figure 2

Galectin-1 in the heart. A. Low power view of heart from non-operated control group showing low and patchy expression of GAL-1, mainly in the right ventricle (arrow head) and interventricular septum (thin arrow), Immunoperoxidase streptavidin-biotin method. B. High power view of left ventricle tissue from non-operated control group showing spotty low expression of GAL-1 mainly in endothelial cells (arrow head) and cardiomyocytes sarcolemmal membrane (thin arrow), Immunoperoxidase streptavidin-biotin method. C. High power view of left ventricle tissue from non-operated control group showing spotty low expression of GAL-1 mainly in endothelial cells (arrow head) and cardiomyocytes sarcolemmal membrane (thin arrow) giving a mesh-like pattern, Alexa Fluor 488, immunofluorescent technique. D, G, J, M. Low power views of heart from surgically operated groups at 30 min, 60 min, 4 hour, 24 hour post-operatively time points showing higher patchy expression of GAL-1in the left ventricle and interventricular septum (thin arrow), the right ventricle is also showing expression of GAL-1 (arrow head), Immunoperoxidase streptavidin-biotin method. E, H, K, N. High power views of left ventricle from surgically operated groups at 30 min, 60 min, 4 hour, 24 hour post-operatively time points showing higher patchy expression of GAL-1 in cardiomyocytes (thin arrow) and endothelial cells (arrow head), Immunoperoxidase streptavidin-biotin method. F, I, L, O. High power views of left ventricle from surgically operated groups at 30 min, 60 min, 4 hour, 24 hour post-operatively time points showing higher patchy expression of GAL-1 in cardiomyocytes (thin arrow) and endothelial cells (arrow head) of left ventricle, Alexa Fluor 488, immunofluorescent technique.

Figure 3

Graphical representation of the Galectin-1 levels in the plasma at different post operated time points. *Shows P<0.05 in non-operated control vs surgically operated groups.