Gal-3 expression and secretion by macrophages is a major mechanism linking macrophages to fibroblast activation and myofibroblast accumulation, as demonstrated by their synthesis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), thus driving renal fibrosis in the unilateral ureteric obstruction model (UUO) [28]. This evidence concerns the gene LGALS3 and renal fibrosis.