Favorable Response to CD34+ Cell Therapy Is Associated with a Decrease of Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Chronic...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Galectin-3 (gal-3) levels correlate with scar burden in chronic heart failure (CHF).
• Scar burden predicts response to stem cell therapy.
• The relationship between gal-3 and CD34+ cell therapy response in CHF is unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between galectin-3 plasma levels and response to CD34+ cell transplantation in patients with CHF.
• To determine if baseline or changes in gal-3 levels predict treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Post hoc analysis of 61 patients from two prospective trials on CD34+ cell therapy for ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy.
• CD34+ cells were mobilized, collected, and transendocardially injected.
• Patients were followed for 3 months, with analysis of demographic, echocardiographic, and biochemical parameters, including gal-3 levels.
• Treatment response was defined as an LVEF increase of ≥5%.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in baseline gal-3 levels between responders and non-responders.
• Responders showed significantly lower gal-3 levels at 3-month follow-up compared to non-responders.
• Responders exhibited a significant decrease in gal-3 over 3 months, while non-responders showed an increase (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• A decrease in galectin-3 plasma levels is associated with a beneficial response to CD34+ cell therapy in CHF patients.
• Galectin-3 may serve as a predictive biomarker for stem cell therapy efficacy.
• Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and elucidate gal-3's role in stem cell therapy.