Differences In Galectin-3, A Biomarker Of Fibrosis, Between Subjects With Peripheral Artery Disease And Controls

Introduction: Galectin-3 (G3) mediates vascular fibrosis. It can be detected in blood but it is unknown whether G3 is a marker of peripheral artery disease (PAD) or correlates with early atherosclerosis markers. Objectives/Aims: To determine if G3 plasma levels are different between subjects with PAD and controls without PAD. Secondary aim: To describe the relationship between G3 plasma levels and markers of early atherosclerosis (arterial elasticity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [HS-CRP], homeostatic model assessment [HOMA], and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio [UACR]) in a sample of subjects with PAD and controls. Methods: Consecutive subjects (n=60) were recruited in 2 groups: (1) a PAD group (n=31), with ankle/brachial index (ABI) <0.90, and (2) non-PAD controls (n=29) with ABI 1-1.4. G3 was measured by ELISA. Demographics, cardiovascular risk factors and markers of early atherosclerosis were compared between groups using t-tests, Chi-square tests and logistic regression and the association between G3 and markers of early atherosclerosis was investigated using linear regression analysis. Results: Compared to controls, participants with PAD were older (mean 68.6 vs. 61.8 years, p=0.02), had a higher percentage of men (68% vs. 38%, p=0.02), and had more smokers, diabetics, and subjects with hypertension and dyslipidemia (p<0.001 for all). G3 was higher in PAD (mean ± SD: 17.6±4.7 vs. 14.4±4.1 ng/mL, p<0.01). The odds ratio for G3 in the PAD group to be 1 ng/mL higher than the control group was 1.19, after adjusting by age (≥65 years) and gender, (95% CI 1.036-1.37, p=0.014). when HS-CRP was included in the model the association between PAD and G3 was not significant. HS-CRP (p=0.005) and HOMA (p=0.016) were positively associated with G3 in the adjusted model. Arterial elasticity (p=0.4) and UACR (p=0.09) were not associated with G3 in the adjusted model. Conclusion: After adjustment for age and gender, mean G3 levels were 22% higher in PAD participants compared to controls and G3 was positively associated with HS-CRP. Future studies are warranted to determine if G3 is an accurate prognostic biomarker or screening tool to detect PAD and atherosclerosis.