English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rheumatic disease characterized by fibrosis, microvascular damage and immune dysregulation. Two major subsets, limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) can be defined, according to the extent of skin involvement. Increasing evidence indicates a role for galectins in immune and vascular programs, extracellular matrix remodeling and fibrosis, suggesting their possible involvement in SSc. Here, we determined serum levels of galectin (Gal)-1 and Gal-3 in 83 SSc patients (dcSSc  n  = 17; lcSSc  n  = 64; ssSSc  n  = 2), and evaluated their association with clinical manifestations of the disease. Patients with dcSSc showed lower Gal-3 levels, compared to lcSSc ( p  = 0.003), whereas no considerable difference in Gal-1 levels was detected between groups. Remarkably, higher concentrations of Gal-1 were associated with the presence of telangiectasias ( p  = 0.015), and higher concentrations Gal-3 were associated with telangiectasias ( p  = 0.021), diarrhea ( p  = 0.039) and constipation ( p  = 0.038). Moreover, lower Gal-3 levels were associated with the presence of tendinous retractions ( p  = 0.005). Patients receiving calcium blockers ( p  = 0.048), methotrexate ( p  = 0.046) or any immunosuppressive treatment ( p  = 0.044) presented lower concentrations of Gal-3 compared to those not receiving such treatments. The presence of telangiectasia and the type of SSc maintained their statistical association with Gal-3 ( β  0.25;  p  = 0.022 and  β  0.26;  p  = 0.017, respectively) in multiple linear regression models. In conclusion, serum levels of Gal-3 are associated with clinical manifestations of SSc. Among them, the presence of telangiectasias could be explained by the central role of this lectin in the vascularization programs.

Circulating Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in Sera From Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: Associations With Clinical Features and Treatment