Galectin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LGALS3 gene. Galectin-3 is a member of the lectin family, of which 14 mammalian galectins have been identified.
Galectin-3 is approximately 30 kDa and, like all galectins binds to beta-galactosides.
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is also a member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family that plays an important role in cell cell adhension, cell-matrix interactions, macrophage activation, angiogenesis and apoptosis.
Galectin-3: One Molecule for an Alphabet of Diseases, from A to Z.
Sciacchitano S, Lavra L, Morgante A, Ulivieri A, Magi F, De Francesco GP, Bellotti C, Salehi LB, Ricci A.
Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 26;19(2).
Galectin-3: an emerging biomarker in stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.
Venkatraman A, Hardas S, Patel N, Singh Bajaj N, Arora G, Arora P.
Eur J Neurol. 2018 Feb;25(2):238-246.
