LGALS3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Compared to the NS group (631.06 ± 54.23 ng/mL; Fig. 1e), the Gal-3 levels in induced sputum were significantly decreased in the HS, asthma, COPD, and ACO groups (390.65 ± 49.78, 449.83 ± 28.62, 266.31 ± 17.08, and 352.17 ± 20.37 ng/mL, respectively).