Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Author Spotlight: Self-Assessment Protocol for Predicting Psoriatic Arthritis in Psoriasis Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with psoriasis
Yıldız Hayran1, Nuran Allı1, Ümit Akpınar1
1Department of Dermatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Introduction:
Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin associated with cellular proliferation, inflammation and angiogenesis, which are the major characteristics of psoriatic skin.
Objectives:
To investigate serum galectin-3 levels in psoriasis patients compared with healthy controls and to study its relationship with disease characteristics.
Methods:
Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with psoriasis and 78 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. Serum galectin-3, IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
Serum Galectin-3, IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared with control group (P < .001, P = .003, P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). A cut-off value of 10 ng/mL for galectin-3 was set after receiver operating characteristic analysis. A serum galectin-3 level >10 ng/mL increased the risk of psoriasis by 14.5 times (95% CI: 6.6-32.3, P < .001) and a serum galectin-3 level >10 ng/mL predicted psoriasis with 83.3% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity. No statistically significant association was observed between serum galectin-3 concentrations and disease characteristics including disease severity, presence of psoriatic arthritis, nail involvement and psoriatic comorbidity. No statistically significant correlation was observed between serum galectin-3 level and serum IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α levels (all three P values > .05).
Conclusions:
Elevated serum galectin-3 levels in psoriasis patients may indicate a possible role of galectin-3 in pathogenesis of psoriasis.
