Correlation between serum galectin-9 levels and liver fibrosis

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) involve inflammation, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis.
• Galectin-9 is implicated in all three stages of CLD progression.
• The specific role of galectin-9 in elevating serum levels during CLD progression requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify which stage of CLD progression most significantly elevates serum galectin-9.
• To evaluate galectin-9 as a potential serum biomarker for liver fibrosis.
• To assess galectin-9's predictive value for liver fibrosis progression.

Main Methods:

• Study included 101 Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Serum galectin-9 levels were quantified using a sandwich ELISA.
• Multiple regression analyses identified predictors of serum galectin-9 concentration.

Main Results:

• Median serum galectin-9 was 77.54 pg/mL.
• Fibrosis-4 index and AST to Platelet Ratio Index significantly predicted serum galectin-9 levels.
• A 10 pg/mL increase in serum galectin-9 correlated with a 3.90 odds ratio for liver fibrosis progression.

Conclusions:

• Serum galectin-9 is a potential biomarker for liver fibrosis in CLDs.
• Galectin-9 levels predict fibrosis progression, irrespective of inflammation or HCC.
• This finding supports galectin-9's utility in monitoring liver fibrosis.