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Review
. 2018 Feb;41(2):599-614.
doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3311. Epub 2017 Dec 5.

Galectin-3 as a novel biomarker for disease diagnosis and a target for therapy (Review)

Rui Dong  1 , Min Zhang  2 , Qunying Hu  2 , Shan Zheng  1 , Andrew Soh  3 , Yijie Zheng  3 , Hui Yuan  4
Affiliations
Review

Galectin-3 as a novel biomarker for disease diagnosis and a target for therapy (Review)

Rui Dong et al. Int J Mol Med. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a member of the galectin family, which are β‑galactoside‑binding lectins with ≥1 evolutionary conserved carbohydrate‑recognition domain. It binds proteins in a carbohydrate‑dependent and ‑independent manner. Galectin‑3 is predominantly located in the cytoplasm; however, it shuttles into the nucleus and is secreted onto the cell surface and into biological fluids including serum and urine. It serves important functions in numerous biological activities including cell growth, apoptosis, pre‑mRNA splicing, differentiation, transformation, angiogenesis, inflammation, fibrosis and host defense. Numerous previous studies have indicated that galectin‑3 may be used as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for certain types of heart disease, kidney disease and cancer. With emerging evidence to support the function and application of galectin‑3, the current review aims to summarize the latest literature regarding the biomarker characteristics and potential therapeutic application of galectin‑3 in associated diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Functions of galection-3 in different locations including the cytoplasm, nucleus, cell surface and circulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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