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50 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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LGALS3
galectin 3
Chromosome 14 · 14q22.3
NCBI Gene: 3958Ensembl: ENSG00000131981.17HGNC: HGNC:6563UniProt: A0A024R693
1,064PubMed Papers
20Diseases
3Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub Gene
RESEARCH IMPACT
Highly StudiedTrending
CLINICAL
Clinical Trials
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
receptor ligand inhibitor activityextracellular matrixRNA bindingprotein phosphatase inhibitor activityArthropathyosteoarthritishepatocellular carcinomamelanoma
✦AI Summary

LGALS3 encodes galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding lectin that functions as a multifaceted regulator in cellular processes and disease pathogenesis 1. The protein serves diverse biological functions including cell growth, apoptosis, pre-mRNA splicing, differentiation, inflammation, and fibrosis 1. LGALS3 acts as a sensitive sensor of lysosomal membrane damage, rapidly translocating to compromised lysosomes and coordinating autophagy responses through formation of the LGALS3-SMURF1-PPP3/calcineurin complex, which activates TFEB for lysosomal biogenesis 23. In disease contexts, LGALS3 promotes pathological processes through multiple mechanisms. It enhances calcium oxalate crystal formation and kidney injury by interacting with PKM2 and promoting histone lactylation-mediated FGFR4 activation 4. In IgA nephropathy, LGALS3 activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotes Th17 cell differentiation, worsening kidney pathology 5. The protein impairs pancreatic β-cell function by binding CACNG1 and inhibiting calcium influx, contributing to diabetes pathogenesis 6. In tauopathy, LGALS3 aggravates microglial activation and enhances tau transmission through extracellular vesicles 7. Additionally, LGALS3 facilitates glioblastoma progression by promoting mesenchymal transition and macrophage polarization 8. These diverse pathological roles make LGALS3 an attractive therapeutic target across multiple diseases 1.

Sources cited
1
LGALS3 encodes galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding lectin with diverse biological functions including cell growth, apoptosis, pre-mRNA splicing, differentiation, inflammation, and fibrosis
PMID: 29207027
2
LGALS3 acts as a sensitive sensor of lysosomal membrane damage, rapidly translocating to compromised lysosomes
PMID: 26114578
3
LGALS3 coordinates autophagy responses through formation of the LGALS3-SMURF1-PPP3/calcineurin complex, which activates TFEB for lysosomal biogenesis
PMID: 37909662
4
LGALS3 enhances calcium oxalate crystal formation and kidney injury by interacting with PKM2 and promoting histone lactylation-mediated FGFR4 activation
PMID: 39903812
5
In IgA nephropathy, LGALS3 activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotes Th17 cell differentiation, worsening kidney pathology
PMID: 39084257
6
LGALS3 impairs pancreatic β-cell function by binding CACNG1 and inhibiting calcium influx, contributing to diabetes pathogenesis
PMID: 38693121
7
In tauopathy, LGALS3 aggravates microglial activation and enhances tau transmission through extracellular vesicles
PMID: 37988169
8
LGALS3 facilitates glioblastoma progression by promoting mesenchymal transition and macrophage polarization
PMID: 39629136
Disease Associationsⓘ20
ArthropathyOpen Targets
0.16Weak
osteoarthritisOpen Targets
0.15Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.13Weak
melanomaOpen Targets
0.13Weak
non-alcoholic steatohepatitisOpen Targets
0.12Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.12Weak
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.12Weak
cancerOpen Targets
0.12Weak
HypercholesterolemiaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.11Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
acute kidney injuryOpen Targets
0.11Weak
papillary thyroid carcinomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisOpen Targets
0.11Weak
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.11Weak
strokeOpen Targets
0.11Weak
COVID-19Open Targets
0.11Weak
diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.11Weak
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.11Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets3
BELAPECTINPhase II
Galectin-3 inhibitor
hypertension
DAVANATPhase I
Galectin-1 inhibitor
OLITIGALTINPhase II
Galectin-3 inhibitor
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Related Genes
LGALS3BPProtein interaction100%CLEC7AProtein interaction99%LGALS9Protein interaction99%TRIM16Protein interaction99%LAG3Protein interaction99%LGALS9CProtein interaction99%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
92%
Ovary
76%
Heart
67%
Brain
11%
Liver
4%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
LGALS3LGALS3BPCLEC7ALGALS9TRIM16LAG3LGALS9C
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB3ZSJ · 0.86 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.15LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.74 [0.49–1.15]
RankingsWhere LGALS3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #144of 20,598
    Most Researched1,064 · top 1%
  • #12,006of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.15
Genes detectedLGALS3
Sources retrieved50 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
50▼
1
Lgals3 Promotes Calcium Oxalate Crystal Formation and Kidney Injury Through Histone Lactylation-Mediated FGFR4 Activation.
PMID: 39903812
Adv Sci (Weinh) · 2025
1.00
2
Galectin-3 impairs calcium transients and β-cell function.
PMID: 38693121
Nat Commun · 2024
0.90
3
Galectin-3 contributes to pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.
PMID: 39084257
Kidney Int · 2024
0.80
4
Influence of LGALS3 gene polymorphisms on susceptibility and prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in a Northern Han Chinese population.
PMID: 29129812
Gene · 2018
0.80
5
LGALS3 and AXIN1 gene variants playing role in the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway are associated with mucinous component and tumor size in colorectal cancer.
PMID: 26894286
Bosn J Basic Med Sci · 2016
0.78