Galectin-3 expression in pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA).

Galectin-3, an endogenous pleiotropic beta-galactoside-binding protein, which is expressed by various malignant and normal cells, regulates many biological and pathological processes, including inflammation. In the present study, we tested a possible correlation between the severity of pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and the presence of galectin-3+ macrophages in pouch mucosa.