Role of Galectins in the Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Galectins, a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins, are related to the development and progression of various human diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. However, its role in liver diseases is unclear.Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs), and mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs were pooled to evaluate the association of the galectins with the outcomes and risk of liver diseases by a random effects model.Results: Thirty three studies involving 43 cohorts and 4,168 patients with liver diseases were included. In the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), high expression of galectin-1 and -3 in the tissues was significantly associated with worse overall survival (galectin-1: HR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.61–2.34, p < 0.001; galectin-3: HR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.62–6.68, p < 0.001) and positive vascular invasion (galectin-1: OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.18–2.58, p = 0.005; galectin-3: OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.58–5.60, p = 0.001); but, high expression of galectin-4 and −9 in the tissues was significantly associated with better overall survival (galectin-4: HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.79, p = 0.002; galectin-9: HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.44–0.71, p < 0.001) and negative vascular invasion (galectin-4: OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.19–0.72, p = 0.003; galectin-9: OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.37–0.97, p = 0.037). Serum galectin-3 level was significantly higher in HCC (MD = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.79–4.32, p < 0.001), liver failure (MD = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.23–0.66, p < 0.001), liver cirrhosis (MD = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.15–2.51, p < 0.001), and chronic active hepatitis B (MD = 18.95, 95% CI = 10.91–27.00, p < 0.001); serum galectin-9 level was significantly higher in HCC (MD = 3.74, 95% CI = 2.57–4.91, p < 0.001) and autoimmune hepatitis (MD = 8.80, 95% CI = 7.61–9.99, p < 0.001).Conclusion: High galectin-1 and -3 and low galectin-4 and -9 expression indicate worse outcomes of patients with HCC. Serum galectin-3 and -9 levels are positively associated with the risk of chronic liver diseases.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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