Evaluation of galectin-1 and galectin-3 levels in patients with bipolar disorder: is galectin-3 associated with treatment response?

Objective: Galectins (Gal), which have been linked with inflammatory response in the central nervous system, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. In this study, we investigated whether serum Gal-1 and Gal-3 levels are related to bipolar disorder.

Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder were included. C-reactive protein, Gal-1, Gal-3 serum concentrations were evaluated on the first day of hospitalization and the third week of treatment and were compared with 41 healthy controls. Illness severity was evaluated with the Young Mania Rating Scale.

Results: Upon hospitalization, the C-reactive protein levels of bipolar disorder patients were significantly higher than in the third week of treatment or in healthy controls. Gal-1 levels on the first day of hospitalization and the third week of treatment were higher than those of healthy controls.There was no significant difference between patient Gal-3 levels upon hospitalization and those of healthy controls; at the end of the third week of treatment, Gal-3 levels were significantly higher than on the first day of hospitalization.

Conclusion: Our study is the first to show a change in Gal levels after treatment and to evaluate the role of Gal in bipolar disorder. Gal-1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Gal-3 could be a biomarker candidate for assessing treatment response.