Journal of International Obstetrics and Gynecology ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (5): 521-524.doi: 10.12280/gjfckx.20260288

• Obstetric Physiology & Obstetric Disease:Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Role of Galectin-9 in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia

LEI Ya-qi, WANG Yong-hong,△()   

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
  • Received:2026-04-07 Published:2026-10-15 Online:2026-10-26
  • Contact: WANG Yong-hong, E-mail: wangyh19672000@126.com

Abstract:

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized primarily by hypertension and proteinuria, and is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, the pathogenesis of PE remains incompletely understood, mainly being associated with mechanisms such as inadequate remodeling of uterine spiral arteries, excessive activation of inflammatory immunity, and damage to vascular endothelial cells. Recent studies have found that galectin-9 (Gal-9), an important member of the β-galactoside-binding lectin family, is involved in the development of PE through multiple pathways, including regulating immune cell function by binding to T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM3) and CD44, participating in placental trophoblast invasion and vascular remodeling, and mediating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. This review summarizes the role of Gal-9 in the pathogenesis of PE.

Key words: Pre-eclampsia, Galectin-9, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3, CD44, Pregnancy, Autophagy, Ferroptosis, Oxidative stress