Dig Dis Sci: Galectin-4 as a Novel Biomarker of Intestinal Injury in Neonates

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease that affects premature infants, and there is currently no reliable test to detect it early
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Symptoms at disease onset are often nonspecific and may resemble other preterm infant diseases, such as infections and dyskinesia, thus highlighting the need to identify reliable biomarkers for diagnosis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease that affects premature infants, and there is currently no reliable test to detect it early

After evaluating four proteins with high intestinal expression: Galectin-4 (Gal-4), S100G, Trefoil Factor-3 and Alanylaminopeptidase
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The researchers found that only Gal-4 showed consistent results near the lower limit of quantification in the control group and validated in a larger cohort

Figure: Differences in the expression levels of Galectin-4

Figure: Differences in the expression levels of Galectin-4

This study found circulating Gal-4 concentrations among the gut-specific proteins assessed to be a good marker for identifying intestinal damage in neonates
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Gal-4 concentrations were significantly elevated in infants with surgical NEC or SIP, suggesting that Gal-4 may serve as a biomarker of neonatal intestinal injury

This study found circulating Gal-4 concentrations among the gut-specific proteins assessed to be a good marker for identifying intestinal damage in neonates

Original source:

Jennifer B.

Jennifer B.
Fundora.
Et al.
Galectin-4 as a Novel Biomarker of Neonatal Intestinal Injury.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences.
2022.
Galectin-4 as a Novel Biomarker of Neonatal Intestinal Injury.
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