*Purpose: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is characterized by chronic inflammation in which healthy liver cells are targeted by one’s immune system. The persistent inflammatory milieu can lead to scarring, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Apoptosis is the predominant mechanism of hepatocyte death in AIH. Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside binding lectin involved in liver fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis. Based on its role, the aim of this study was to identify the cellular localization of galectin-3 in AIH.

*Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed in liver explants (n=10) from cirrhotic patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

*Results: Galectin-3 in the liver from healthy subjects is expressed only in the sinusoidal spaces and in some cholangiocytes (Fig. 1A). In cirrhotic patients with AIH there were prominent regenerative nodules surrounded by fibrous septa with visible portal and lobular inflammatory infiltrate. Galectin-3 expression was widely distributed within the cytoplasm of these regenerative nodules and was also present in some of the inflammatory infiltrate. Moreover, these AIH patients showed prominent ductular reactions, which were also strongly expressing galectin-3. (Fig. 1B-C)

*Conclusions: Galectin-3 distinguishes hepatocyte damage, suggesting that might play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of AIH. These findings identify galectin-3 as a component involved in the fibrotic and inflammatory process of autoimmune liver disease.

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