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Circulating galectin‐1 concentrations in systemic sclerosis: potential contribution to digital vasculopathy
Author(s) -
Yanaba Koichi,
Asano Yoshihide,
Akamata Kaname,
Noda Shinji,
Aozasa Naohiko,
Taniguchi Takashi,
Takahashi Takehiro,
Toyama Tetsuo,
Ichimura Yohei,
Sumida Hayakazu,
Kuwano Yoshihiro,
Miyazaki Miki,
Sato Shinichi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12288
Subject(s) - medicine , galectin 3 , scars , galectin , gastroenterology , pathology , immunology
Aim To determine serum galectin‐1 levels and their clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis ( SS c). Method Serum galectin‐1 levels were examined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in 66 patients with SS c and 24 healthy individuals. Results No significant differences were observed in serum galectin‐1 levels between patients with SSc (9.4 ± 5.6 ng/mL), and healthy individuals (8.9 ± 1.3 ng/mL). Among patients with SSc, no significant differences were seen in serum galectin‐1 levels between those with diffuse cutaneous SSc (8.8 ± 5.7 ng/mL; n = 31) and those with limited cutaneous SSc (10.0 ± 5.4 ng/mL; n = 35). Patients with SSc who had increased galectin‐1 levels less often had pitting scars/digital ulcers than those with normal galectin‐1 levels (17% vs . 49%; P < 0.01). Consistently, galectin‐1 levels were significantly lower in SSc patients with pitting scars/digital ulcers than in those without pitting scars/digital ulcers (6.9 ± 4.8 vs . 10.9 ± 5.5 ng/mL; P < 0.01). Conclusion These results suggest that galectin‐1 is a protective factor against the development of digital vasculopathy in SS c. In addition, measurement of serum galectin‐1 levels may be useful for risk stratification for the development of digital vasculopathy in the early phase of SS c.