LGALS3 and chronic kidney disease: Galectin-3 is a novel 35 kDa, soluble β-galactoside-binding lectin expressed by epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages, with multiple biological abilities, including cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, and inflammation; it has also been related to cardiac fibrosis and heart failure and even long-term adverse prognosis of the general population [14] and patients with chronic heart failure [14,15], DM [16], or CKD [17,18].