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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Multiplexed Fluorescent Microarray for Human Salivary Protein Analysis Using Polymer Microspheres and Fiber-optic Bundles
Published on: October 10, 2013
A pilot study to demonstrate diagnostic potential of galectin-3 levels in saliva
Xi Zhang1, Yunxia Wan1, Roberto Chata2
1The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Saliva galectin-3 (a protein) can help diagnose heart failure (HF) in older adults. This study established a reference range for salivary galectin-3, showing its potential as a diagnostic biomarker alongside serum levels.
Area of Science:
- Biomarker Discovery
- Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostics
- Proteomics and Immunoassays
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent condition affecting millions globally, particularly older individuals.
- Serum galectin-3 is a known prognostic biomarker for HF.
- The diagnostic potential of salivary galectin-3 for HF has not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reference range for galectin-3 concentrations in human saliva.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary and serum galectin-3 levels in patients with heart failure.
- To explore the correlation between salivary and serum galectin-3 levels in HF assessment.
Main Methods:
- Collection of blood and saliva samples from healthy controls (n=51) and HF patients (n=63).
- Development of customized immunoassays for quantifying salivary galectin-3.
- Evaluation of diagnostic performance using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated galectin-3 concentrations were observed in both saliva and serum of HF patients compared to controls (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively).
- ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 for serum galectin-3 and 0.73 for salivary galectin-3.
- A significant positive correlation (r=0.4, p<0.01) was found between serum and salivary galectin-3 levels.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first quantification of galectin-3 in human saliva, demonstrating its potential as a novel diagnostic biomarker for heart failure.
- Both salivary and serum galectin-3 show promise in assessing HF, with serum exhibiting higher diagnostic accuracy in this cohort.
- Further large-scale, multicenter clinical trials are essential to validate these findings and facilitate the clinical implementation of salivary galectin-3 testing.
Aim:
Heart failure (HF) affects millions of older individuals in both developed and low/middle-income countries. Serum galectin-3 levels have been shown to have prognostic value. However, its use as a diagnostic biomarker has not been explored. The aim was to establish a saliva galectin-3 reference range and to demonstrate the potential diagnostic utility of salivary and serum galectin-3 levels in assessing HF.
Methods:
Blood and saliva samples were collected from age-matched healthy controls (n=51) and patients with HF (n=63). Customised immunoassays were developed to quantify salivary galectin-3 levels. The diagnostic performances of these assays were evaluated by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves analysis.
Results:
The galectin-3 concentrations were significantly elevated in saliva and serum samples of patients with HF compared with controls (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Using ROC curve analysis, both serum and salivary galectin-3 gave area under the curve (AUC)=0.86 and AUC=0.73, respectively. There was also a significant correlation (r=0.4, p<0.01) between serum and salivary galectin-3 levels.
Conclusions:
For the first time, we have quantified galectin-3 levels in human saliva and have demonstrated potential clinical utility in diagnosing HF. Further, larger multicentre clinical trials are needed before salivary galectin-3 levels can be implemented in a clinical setting.
