Galectin-1 Is a Marker but Not a Mediator of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND: The immune system is emerging as a key player in driving cardiac remodeling in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Galectin-1 ( Lgals1 ) is a carbohydrate-binding protein that we previously identified as being upregulated in cardiac myeloid cells in a preclinical model of HFpEF. Our objective was to determine the role of galectin-1 in HFpEF in both preclinical models and clinical cohort studies. METHODS: Galectin-1 was measured using the Olink proximity extension assay in human cohorts. HFpEF was induced in mice with myeloid-specific and global deletion of galectin-1 and corresponding controls using the hypertensive deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model. RESULTS: Plasma galectin-1 was higher in both a preclinical model of HFpEF ( P =0.022) and in patients with heart failure ( P