Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is commonly considered as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, posing considerable public health and economic challenges due to its high prevalence. This study investigates the diagno...

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Main Authors: Ting Zeng, Fang Li, Min Yang, Yao Wu, Wei Cui, Huaming Mou, Xiaohe Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/425
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author Ting Zeng
Fang Li
Min Yang
Yao Wu
Wei Cui
Huaming Mou
Xiaohe Luo
author_facet Ting Zeng
Fang Li
Min Yang
Yao Wu
Wei Cui
Huaming Mou
Xiaohe Luo
author_sort Ting Zeng
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is commonly considered as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, posing considerable public health and economic challenges due to its high prevalence. This study investigates the diagnostic potential of serum galectin-1 levels in MASLD patients. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 128 participants were analyzed for this study, comprising 68 healthy controls and 60 MASLD patients. The hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and fatty liver index (FLI) were calculated to evaluate the liver steatosis. Serum galectin-1 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We additionally conducted a comparative analysis of galectin-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in the liver tissue between the mouse models of MASLD, including ob/ob mice (<i>n</i> = 6), high-fat diet-fed C57 mice (<i>n</i> = 6), and the control group (<i>n</i> = 6). <b>Results</b>: Average serum galectin-1 levels significantly differed between groups, with lower values in the controls (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The frequency of MASLD increased with higher quartiles of galectin-1 levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between serum galectin-1 and both HSI and FLI (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The multivariate logistic regression indicated that elevated galectin-1 was associated with an increased risk of MASLD (<i>p</i> < 0.01), yielding an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting MASLD at 0.745 (95% CI: 0.662–0.829). Hepatic galectin-1 levels were also elevated in the MASLD mouse model at both transcript and protein levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <b>Conclusions</b>: Serum galectin-1 can be used as a potential biomarker to help diagnose MASLD.
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spelling doaj-art-c621f623459b403d879be2fcf52407572025-08-20T02:44:55ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-02-0113242510.3390/biomedicines13020425Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience SamplingTing Zeng0Fang Li1Min Yang2Yao Wu3Wei Cui4Huaming Mou5Xiaohe Luo6Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaThe Center of Clinical Research of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in Chongqing, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 404000, China<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is commonly considered as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, posing considerable public health and economic challenges due to its high prevalence. This study investigates the diagnostic potential of serum galectin-1 levels in MASLD patients. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 128 participants were analyzed for this study, comprising 68 healthy controls and 60 MASLD patients. The hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and fatty liver index (FLI) were calculated to evaluate the liver steatosis. Serum galectin-1 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We additionally conducted a comparative analysis of galectin-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in the liver tissue between the mouse models of MASLD, including ob/ob mice (<i>n</i> = 6), high-fat diet-fed C57 mice (<i>n</i> = 6), and the control group (<i>n</i> = 6). <b>Results</b>: Average serum galectin-1 levels significantly differed between groups, with lower values in the controls (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The frequency of MASLD increased with higher quartiles of galectin-1 levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between serum galectin-1 and both HSI and FLI (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The multivariate logistic regression indicated that elevated galectin-1 was associated with an increased risk of MASLD (<i>p</i> < 0.01), yielding an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting MASLD at 0.745 (95% CI: 0.662–0.829). Hepatic galectin-1 levels were also elevated in the MASLD mouse model at both transcript and protein levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <b>Conclusions</b>: Serum galectin-1 can be used as a potential biomarker to help diagnose MASLD.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/425metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseserum galectin-1 levelsdiagnostic markerfatty liver indexhepatic steatosis index
spellingShingle Ting Zeng
Fang Li
Min Yang
Yao Wu
Wei Cui
Huaming Mou
Xiaohe Luo
Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
Biomedicines
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
serum galectin-1 levels
diagnostic marker
fatty liver index
hepatic steatosis index
title Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
title_full Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
title_fullStr Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
title_short Feasibility of Serum Galectin-1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Study on a Segment of the Chinese Population Using Convenience Sampling
title_sort feasibility of serum galectin 1 as a diagnostic biomarker for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease a study on a segment of the chinese population using convenience sampling
topic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
serum galectin-1 levels
diagnostic marker
fatty liver index
hepatic steatosis index
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/425
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