Title:Galectin-3 and Severity of Liver Fibrosis in Metabolic
Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Volume: 31
Issue: 4
Author(s): Mohammadjavad Sotoudeheian*
Affiliation:
- Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, galactose-binding lectin, beta-D-galactosyl-specific lectin, liver fibrosis, liver steatosis, hepatic cirrhosis.
Abstract: Metabolic dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease
characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver and hepatic steatosis, which can progress
to critical conditions, including Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), liver fibrosis,
hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Galectin-3, a member of the galectin family
of proteins, has been involved in cascades that are responsible for the pathogenesis and progression
of liver fibrosis in MAFLD. This review summarizes the present understanding of the role of
galectin-3 in the severity of MAFLD and its associated liver fibrosis. The article assesses the underlying
role of galectin-3-mediated fibrogenesis, including the triggering of hepatic stellate cells,
the regulation of extracellular degradation, and the modulation of immune reactions and responses.
It also highlights the assessments of the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of
galectin-3 in liver fibrosis during MAFLD. Overall, this review provides insights into the multifaceted
interaction between galectin-3 and liver fibrosis in MAFLD, which could lead to the development
of novel strategies for diagnosis and treatment of this prevalent liver disease.