Galectin-3 is upregulated in frontotemporal dementia patients with subtype specificity

Borrego Écija, Sergi; Pérez Millan, Agnès; Antonell, Anna; Fort Aznar, Laura; Kaya Tilki, Elif; León Halcón, Alberto; Vitorica Ferrández, Francisco Javier; Venero Recio, José Luis; Boza Serrano, Antonio; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Generalitat de Catalunya; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación . España; European Commission . Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional

Galectin-3 is upregulated in frontotemporal dementia patients with subtype specificity

2023

INTRODUCTION Neuroinflammation is a major contributor to the progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a microglial activation regulator, holds promise as a therapeutic target and potential biomarker. Our study aimed to investigate Gal-3 levels in patients with FTD and assess its diagnostic potential. METHODS We examined Gal-3 levels in brain, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with FTD and controls. Multiple linear regressions between Gal-3 levels and other FTD markers were explored. RESULTS Gal-3 levels were increased significantly in patients with FTD, mainly across brain tissue and CSF, compared to controls. Remarkably, Gal-3 levels were higher in cases with tau pathology than TAR-DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology. Only MAPT mutation carriers displayed increased Gal-3 levels in CSF samples, which correlated with total tau and 14-3-3. DISCUSSION Our findings underscore the potential of Gal-3 as a diagnostic marker for FTD, particularly in MAPT cases, and highlights the relation of Gal-3 with neuronal injury markers.

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Instituto de Salud Carlos III de España y fondos europeos FEDER - PI20/0448, PI19/00449, PI18/01556, PI21/00914

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Generalitat de Cataluña - SGR2021- 01126

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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España y fondos europeos /FEDER/UE - PID2021-124096OB-I00

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