Galectin-1 (GAL-1) belongs to the family of β-galactoside-binding lectins. It regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, the immune response, apoptosis, cell cycle, RNA splicing and neoplastic transformation. We investigate the effect of heart manipulation secondary to cardiac surgery on the level of GAL-1 in murine heart and plasma. Male C57B6/J mice were used for adopted model of cardiac surgery. Heart samples were processed for immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent labeling, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative RT-PCR to identify GAL-1 levels in the heart and plasma during the first 24 hours following cardiac surgery. There is significant increase of GAL-1 in the LV at 30 minutes (P<0.000), 60 minutes (P<0.001), 4 hour (P<0.003), and 24 hour (P<0.003) time points of surgically operated groups compared to non-operated control group, while GAL-1 mRNA levels in any of the surgically operated groups are not significantly different from the non-operated group suggesting extracardiac origin of this raise of GAL-1. There is significant increase of GAL-1 in the plasma at 30 minutes (P<0.000), 60 minutes (P<0.009), 4 hour (P<0.043), and 24 hour (P<0.000) time points of surgically operated groups compared to non-operated control group. In conclusion, GAL-1 is valuable biomarker of surgical stress.
Keywords: Heart; galectin-1; surgical stress.