Development of a monomeric recombinant Butea monosperma agglutinin as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cholangiocarcinoma

Sirintra Udomkitkosol ¹, Pondthip Thaiorn ¹, Phisit Sintusen ¹

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
³School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, and Center for Biomolecular Structure, Function and Application, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand.
⁴Department of Biochemistry, Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand.
⁵Centre of Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
⁶Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
⁷Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.

⁰Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. General Subjects +

|

August 27, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A new recombinant lectin, rBMA, shows promise for diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). It detects specific glycans in patient serum, differentiating CCA from healthy individuals with high sensitivity.

Area Of Science

Biochemistry
Glycobiology
Molecular Biology

Background

Native Butea monosperma agglutinin (nBMA) is a lectin that binds specific sugars.
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a challenging cancer to diagnose early.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop and characterize a recombinant beta-chain of BMA (rBMA) for potential diagnostic applications in CCA.
To evaluate the diagnostic potential of rBMA-binding glycans in patient serum.

Main Methods

Recombinant rBMA was expressed in E. coli and characterized for its structure and binding properties.
Lectin-cytofluorescent staining was used to assess rBMA binding to CCA cell lines and tissues.
Serum dot blots were analyzed for rBMA-binding glycans to differentiate CCA patients from healthy individuals.

Main Results

rBMA, in monomeric form, retained specific glycan-binding capacity without hemagglutination.
rBMA binding was carbohydrate-dependent and targeted complex glycosylated glycans.
Elevated serum rBMA-binding glycans differentiated CCA patients (92.9% sensitivity, 74% accuracy) and correlated with poorer survival and alkaline phosphatase levels.

Conclusions

Serum rBMA-binding glycans are potential biomarkers for CCA progression.
rBMA is a promising tool for CCA diagnostics and potential therapeutic development due to its specificity and safety profile.

Keywords:

Aberrant glycans Cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis Cholangiocarcinoma prognosis Monomeric lectin Recombinant Butea monosperma agglutinin Serum biomarkers