Galectin 1, 3, 8, and 9 as Potential Biomarkers for COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the significance of these non-invasive biomarkers (Galectin-1-, 3, 8, and 9) in predicting early diagnosis of moderate state of COVID-19 infected patients and correlation with other parameters.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was done from February 2023 – February 2024, involving 80 patients who infected with moderate state of COVID-19 infection attending many privet clinics and compared with forty healthy controls. Serum of both groups were quantified for Galectin-1, Galectin-3, Galectin-8, and Galectin-9 using human ELISA kit.

Results: Galectin-1 illustrated no statistically significant difference in the median levels of galectin-1 between COVID-19 patients and controls (p=0.1321) while Galectin-3, Galectin-8, and galectin-9 were demonstrated a higher significant difference in the median levels of galectin-3, Galectin-8, and galectin-9 in COVID-19 patients compared to controls (P=0.0306, P=0.004, and P=0.0001 respectively).

Conclusions: The results recommend that galectin-3,8, and 9 has the possible important role to be a biomarker for moderate state of COVID-19 infection.