Mast cells in patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) appear to express increased levels of galectin-3 and galectin-8, a finding that could have important therapeutic and diagnostic implications, according to a recently published study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
The need for more accurate biomarkers
A biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological state or condition used to aid diagnosis, prognosis and disease monitoring.
SM is characterized by abnormal accumulation of mast cells in multiple organs. Because of its relatively low incidence and unspecific symptoms, it remains a challenging condition to diagnose and treat effectively.
Currently, there is a growing need for more accurate biomarkers in SM. Traditional diagnostic tools like serum tryptase levels, KIT D816V mutation analysis and bone marrow histopathology have proven essential, but are limited in sensitivity, specificity and ability to predict disease progression. For example, serum tryptase levels can be elevated by unrelated conditions and affected by hereditary alpha tryptasemia (a common genetic condition), which weakens its diagnostic value.
Therefore, the authors aimed to investigate novel molecular markers with the potential to improve disease classification and therapeutic monitoring.
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New promising SM biomarkers
A new study using single-cell transcriptomic analysis of skin samples from SM patients has identified elevated expression of galectin-3 and galectin-8 — glycan-binding proteins involved in immune modulation and inflammation. Galectins are evolutionary conserved proteins that play a key role in several cellular functions, including immune regulation and inflammation.
The aforementioned galectins were found not only in mast cells but also in keratinocytes and endothelial cells, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Their involvement in disease pathology suggests they could serve both as biomarkers and as therapeutic targets.
“These findings suggest that targeting galectin-3 and galectin-8, which may play a role in disease pathology, could offer a promising approach for developing precision therapies for mastocytosis,” the study’s authors wrote.
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