Noninvasive Biomarkers for Early Detection of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Ulcerative Colitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic liver disease strongly associated with ulcerative colitis (UC). Although uncommon, PSC-associated ulcerative colitis (PSCUC) represents a distinct subtype of inflammatory bowel diseases characterized by a higher risk of colorectal and hepatobiliary cancers. Early diagnosis remains a challenging issue because of the lack of specific biomarkers. Bioinformatic analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets identified potential, specific, and noninvasive biomarkers via differential gene expression and functional enrichment. After processing the data, S100A8 and S100A12 were identified as candidate biomarkers for detecting PSC in patients with UC. S100A8 encodes one component of calprotectin, the S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer widely used as a marker of intestinal inflammation. These two genes are primarily involved in inflammation, immune responses, and leukocyte recruitment, making them potentially useful biomarkers for early detection in PSC in UC patients. These biomarkers offer potential implications for disease stratification and therapeutic targeting. Further validation in prospective clinical studies is warranted to confirm their diagnostic and prognostic utilities.