OBJECTIVES: Aiming to offer a diagnosis method or a prognostic marker, galectin-3 appears as a potential marker of the physiopathology of diverse diseases and some types of cancer, between them the colorectal cancer. METHODS: In our study, the immunohistochemical and histological profiles had been taken from intestinal biopsies of patients with ulcerative colitis (n=20) and its respective normal counterpart, from both males and females and average age of 55 years-old. The biopsies had been submitted to Periodic Acid of Schiff (PAS) for visualization of glycosaminoglycans inclusions, and Masson's tricromic for visualization of collagen fibers. Fragments (4µm) had been submitted to the technique of immunohistochemistry for galectin-3 protein. The profiles of tecidual coloration had been analyzed through a work station contend an optic microscope copulated with a digital camera, both connected a computer contend software OPTIMAS®. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate a reduction of galectin-3 expression in ulcerative colitis inflammatory site from surgically and clinically treated patients. The goblet cells number from the surgically treated patients had suffered a significant reduction (p<0.022), however with increase of its glandular content. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the glandular activity together with the reduction of the galectin-3 expression can assist the accompaniment of these patients.
ulcerative colitis; galectin-3; image digital analises
