TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasma Galectin-3 and Sonographic Measures of Carotid Atherosclerosis in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
AU - Oyenuga, Abayomi
AU - Folsom, Aaron R.
AU - Fashanu, Oluwaseun
AU - Aguilar, David
AU - Ballantyne, Christie M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin that plays a role in the regulation of several conditions that are associated with atherosclerosis. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association of plasma galectin-3 concentrations with sonographic measures of carotid atherosclerosis in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Linear regression was used to determine the difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) by categorical and continuous representations of galectin-3. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio and 95% CI, separately, for dichotomized cIMT (75th percentile = 0.9 mm) and carotid plaque and/or shadowing. Compared to those in the first quintile of galectin-3, those in the fifth quintile of galectin-3 level had higher cIMT (mean difference: 0.020 mm after multivariable adjustment; P trend =.04). Moreover, compared to those in the lowest galectin-3 quintile, those in the highest galectin-3 quintile had higher odds of carotid plaque/and or shadowing (odds ratio 1.13 after multivariable adjustment; P trend =.014). Higher levels of galectin-3 are associated with greater carotid atherosclerosis. Our findings provide support for the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest galectin-3 as a possible target for intervention in the prevention or management of atherosclerotic disease.
AB - Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin that plays a role in the regulation of several conditions that are associated with atherosclerosis. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association of plasma galectin-3 concentrations with sonographic measures of carotid atherosclerosis in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Linear regression was used to determine the difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) by categorical and continuous representations of galectin-3. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio and 95% CI, separately, for dichotomized cIMT (75th percentile = 0.9 mm) and carotid plaque and/or shadowing. Compared to those in the first quintile of galectin-3, those in the fifth quintile of galectin-3 level had higher cIMT (mean difference: 0.020 mm after multivariable adjustment; P trend =.04). Moreover, compared to those in the lowest galectin-3 quintile, those in the highest galectin-3 quintile had higher odds of carotid plaque/and or shadowing (odds ratio 1.13 after multivariable adjustment; P trend =.014). Higher levels of galectin-3 are associated with greater carotid atherosclerosis. Our findings provide support for the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest galectin-3 as a possible target for intervention in the prevention or management of atherosclerotic disease.
KW - ARIC
KW - atherosclerosis
KW - carotid intima–media thickness
KW - galectin-3
KW - plaque
KW - shadowing
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U2 - 10.1177/0003319718780772
DO - 10.1177/0003319718780772
M3 - Article
C2 - 29879846
AN - SCOPUS:85048294980
SN - 0003-3197
VL - 70
SP - 47
EP - 55
JO - Angiology
JF - Angiology
IS - 1
ER -