No significant difference was found regarding galectin-3 levels between SLE with nephritis and those without nephritis (P > .05); no significant difference was found between less active SLE and more active SLE (P > .05).
Moreover, LIC infection in mice whose Gal-3 was disrupted (<i>Lgals3</i><sup>-</sup><sup>/-</sup>) had a higher bacterial burden and enhanced subacute nephritis and chronic kidney fibrosis when compared to C57BL/6J wild-type mice.
Serum Gal-3 levels were higher in patients with SLE, particularly in those with nephritis, than in healthy controls, and correlated with anti-dsDNA titers.