Increased levels of serum galectin-3 in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: associated with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the potential values of serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels in diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) for patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

METHODS: The concentrations of serum Gal-3 and interleukin (IL)-17 were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 87 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls (HC). The levels of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), immunoglobulin (Ig)G, complement (C3), albumin (ALB) and Fibrinogen (FIB) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured. ILD was identified on high-resolution computed tomography.

RESULTS: The levels of serum Gal-3 and IL-17 were significantly higher in pSS patients than in HC. Stratification analyses indicated significantly higher levels of Gal-3 in pSS patients with ILD and in those with positive ANCA. In comparison with that of pSS patients without ILD, significantly higher levels of ESR, CRP, FIB, IgG, C3 and lower ALB were detected in pSS patients with ILD. The levels of galectin-3 were correlated positively with the values of CRP, FIB, IgG or IL-17 in patients with pSS.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher levels of serum galectin-3 may be associated with the development of pSS, particularly with ILD.