A recent study from Southern Sweden has shown an association of elevated galectin-1 levels with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also indicated the protective function of galectin-1 among patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for diabetic nephropathy. Galectin-1 , a highly conserved carbohydrate-binding protein , is involved in cell growth and has anti-inflammatory effects 1,2 . Experimental data with the diabetic mice model has pointed to the modulatory effect of galectin-1 on kidney fibrosis 3 .
A cross-sectional observation study has linked circulating levels of galectin-1 with many markers of metabolic diseases. However, it showed an inverse association of galectin-1 with type 2 diabetes independently of obesity. This pilot study also identified scope for more such studies to understand the role of galectin-1 in type 2 diabetes 4 . Recently, the researchers…
