Alteration of Serum Gal-3 Levels in Endometrium-Related Reproductive Disorders

Endometriosis, a benign, chronic gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, affects 15% of women of reproductive age. Galectins, a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins, regulate inflammation and autoimmunity and are widely expressed in reproductive tissues. This study aimed to assess Galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels in the serum of patients with endometriosis compared to asymptomatic controls and investigate serum Gal-3 level changes over a one-year follow-up period of patients with endometriosis. To determine the levels of soluble Gal-3 in the serum of women with endometriosis or gynecological tumors as well as healthy controls, a human Gal-3-specific ELISA was used. Our findings revealed significantly elevated serum Gal-3 levels in patients with endometriosis compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, Gal-3 concentrations were markedly higher in patients with malignant gynecological transformation of the endometrium than in patients with or without endometriosis. During the one-year follow-up, patients with endometriosis exhibited a progressive increase in serum Gal-3 levels. These findings highlight the potential of Gal-3 as a biomarker for endometriosis and related gynecological conditions. However, further prospective studies with larger, more representative patient cohorts are needed to validate its clinical value.