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Chemically-blocked Antibody Microarray for Multiplexed High-throughput Profiling of Specific Protein Glycosylation in Complex Samples
Published on: May 4, 2012
Altered serum N-glycomics in chronic hepatitis B patients
Hong-lian Gui1, Chun-fang Gao, Hui Wang
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Summary
Serum N-glycans show potential as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing liver fibrosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Specific glycan profiles accurately reflect fibrosis severity and progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hepatology
- Glycomics
Background:
- Previous studies identified serum N-glycans as diagnostic markers for cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients.
- This study investigates serum N-glycans for diagnosing liver fibrosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum N-glycans as diagnostic markers for liver fibrosis in HBV-infected patients.
- To compare the diagnostic performance of a serum glycan marker assay (GlycoFibroTest) with FibroTest.
Main Methods:
- Serum N-glycan profiles were analyzed in 173 HBV patients using DNA sequencer-based carbohydrate analytical profiling.
- Liver fibrosis was staged using the Ishak score, with histological confirmation.
Main Results:
- Serum N-glycans, including agalactosylated biantennary glycans, were altered in HBV patients with liver fibrosis.
- Levels of biantennary (NA2) and triantennary (NA3) N-glycans decreased significantly with increasing fibrosis severity.
- GlycoFibroTest demonstrated comparable (AUC=0.735) and slightly superior (AUC=0.740) diagnostic performance to FibroTest for fibrosis staging.
Conclusions:
- Serum glycan profiling is a reproducible, non-invasive method for diagnosing liver fibrosis in HBV infection.
- Changes in serum N-glycan levels can serve as markers for monitoring fibrosis progression.
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