P022 Galectin-3, galectin-9, and galectin-3 binding protein in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
D. Cibor*1, K. Szczeklik2, D. Owczarek1, T. Mach1
1Jagiellonian University Medical College, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Cracow, Poland, 2Jagiellonian University Medical College, Integrated Dentistry, Cracow, Poland
Background
Galectins are a family of lectins that bind β-galactosides. They effect variety of cellular and intracellular processes including inflammation, fibrosis, organogenesis, immunological response, and malignancy. Thus, galectins may be a therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Their role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has not been fully evaluated, yet. The study aimed to assess galectin-3, galectin-9, and galectin-3-binding protein (M2BP) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), and to correlate it with inflammatory markers and the disease activity.
Methods
Consecutive patients, including 48 with UC, 77 with CD, and 30 healthy controls were included. The white blood cell count, haematocrit, platelet count, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, galectin-3, galectin-9, M2BP levels in serum were measured and correlated with the disease activity.
Results
There were no significant differences in the median galectin-3 and galectin-9 levels between the UC group, CD group and the control group (Table 1). M2BP was significantly higher in the CD group vs. controls. The median M2BP level in the patients with active UC was significantly higher 72.74 (60.86–101.72) ng/ml than in the group with inactive disease 61.22 (39.31–72.60) ng/ml,
Conclusion
This is the first study to show that M2BP is increased in active IBD and in the UC its level is associated both with inflammatory markers and disease activity as well. In contrast, galectins 3 and 9 levels do not differ from healthy controls.