Emerging Role of Galectin-3 in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is multifactorial disadptive disease with poor clinical outcomes associated with increased pulmonary artery pressure resulting in primary small-to-moderate pulmonary artery remodeling. Numerous factors, including smooth muscle cell proliferation, vasospasm, vascular fibrosis and occlusion, direct vascular injury and inflammation, impaired repair of vasculature, are involved in the pathogenesis of PAH. It has been suggested that galectin-3 as a biomarker of excessive fibrosis and inflammation can be useful predictor of both severity and prognosis in patient with PAH. The short communication is reported that elevated Gal-3 levels were found in majority patients with PAH depending on clinical status and of the disease. Although elevated Gal-3 levels were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and right ventricle heart failure, the value of this biomarker in PAH patients at high risk stratification is uncertain and requires to be investigated in large clinical trials.