Relationship between novel inflammatory biomarker galectin-3 and depression symptom severity in a large community-based sample.

Major depressive disorder is associated with pro-inflammatory markers, such as cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1ß, and C-reactive protein. Galectin-3 is a novel emerging biomarker with pro-inflammatory properties. It is a saccharide binding protein distributed throughout many tissues with varying functions and is a predictor of poor outcomes in patients with heart failure and stroke.

Relationship between inflammatory biomarker galectin-3 and hippocampal volume in a community study.

Galectin-3 (Gal3) is expressed by microglia and performs functions including adhesion; activation of macrophages and fibroblasts, and mediates inflammatory responses in the hippocampus. The present study examined whether serum Gal3 levels predict hippocampal volume in a multi-ethnic, community-based sample. Results of a multiple linear regression (controlling for depression, serum creatinine level, age, BMI, total brain volume, MoCA score, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, history of diabetes) showed that Gal3 levels significantly predicted left (p = .