Il Ruolo Della Galectina-3 Nella Patologia Cardio-Renale

Luca Di Lullo; Rodolfo Rivera; Fulvio Floccari; Vincenzo Barbera; Antonio Bellasi; Antonio De Pascalis; Domenico Russo; Luigi Russo; Francesca Santoboni; Giovanni Otranto; Claudio Ronco

doi:10.33393/gcnd.2017.621

Authors

Luca Di Lullo U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Parodi-Delfino, Colleferro (RM)
Rodolfo Rivera Divisione di Nefrologia, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza
Fulvio Floccari U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale S. Paolo, Civitavecchia (RM)
Vincenzo Barbera U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Parodi-Delfino, Colleferro (RM)
Antonio Bellasi U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, ASST Lariana, Como
Antonio De Pascalis U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale V. Fazzi, Lecce
Domenico Russo Cattedra di Nefrologia, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli
Luigi Russo Cattedra di Nefrologia, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli
Francesca Santoboni U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Parodi-Delfino, Colleferro (RM)
Giovanni Otranto U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Parodi-Delfino, Colleferro (RM)
Claudio Ronco International Renal Research Institute, Ospedale S. Bortolo, Vicenza

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33393/gcnd.2017.621

Keywords:

Acute kidney injury, Chronic kidney disease, Galectin-3, Heart failure, Nephrogenesis, Ventricular remodelling

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a 32- to 35-kDa member of the galectin family of b-galactoside-binding lectins, which is characterized by a carbohydrate recognition domain. Through its carbohydrate-binding function, it regulates cell growth, differentiation, and inflammation. It also plays a complex, context-dependent role in the kidneys. During the development, it promotes nephrogenesis and is strongly expressed in the ureteric bud and its derivatives. An increase in the concentration of galectin-3 has been reported to be associated with fibrosis of the kidneys. Elevated levels of plasma galectin-3 are also associated with increased risks of rapid renal function decline, incident chronic kidney disease, and progressive renal impairment, and also with cardiovascular endpoints, infection, and all-cause mortality in patients with renal function impairment. This review discusses a general survey on galectin-3 expressions in nephrogenesis, kidney injury in animal models, clinical renal diseases, and renal transplantation and the potential role of galectin-3 for treatment in kidney disease. (Cardionephrology)