title: Serum proteomic MRM identify peptide ions of transferrin as new fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the limitations of liver biopsy, reliable non-invasive serum biomarkers of liver fibrosis are needed. The aim of this study was to identify such markers by the use of serum proteomics in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to identify differentially expressed protein spots in sera from 40 CHB patients [20 with mild fibrosis (S0-S1) and 20 with severe fibrosis (S3-S4)]. Mass spectrometry (MS) based multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to quantify peptide ions of differential protein spots in another set of sera from 86 CHB patients with different liver fibrosis (S0-S4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven differentially expressed protein spots were found by 2-DE. Fourteen peptide ions of seven target protein spots were quantified by MS-based MRM. Summed peak areas ratio (SPAR) values of peptide ions from protein spot 1, 4 and 8, identified as apo serum transferrin, complement component C3c and transferrin, were significantly different from non-fibrosis (S0) to fibrosis stage 4. AUROCs of models established by peptide ions (protein spot 1, 4, 8) and model consisting of a combination of all ions were 0.848∼0.966 (S2-S4 versus S0-S1) and 0.785∼0.875 (S3-S4 versus S0-S2). Only the peptide ions model of transferrin had better sensitivity and specificity for predicting fibrosis stages than did aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 and Forn's index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum peptide ions of transferrin, detected by proteomic MRM, are new and promising biomarkers for staging liver fibrosis in CHB patients.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors: Ming-Yi
authors: MY
authors: Xu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Qu
authors: Xiao-Fang
authors: XF
authors: Jia
authors: Mei-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Wang
authors: Heng
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Xing-Peng
authors: XP
authors: Wang
authors: Li-Jun
authors: LJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Lun-Gen
authors: LG
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015932:Complement C3c / Q000378:metabolism; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D040901:Proteomics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001059:Apoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C028284:apotransferrin; D015932:Complement C3c; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases
keywords: 2-DE; APRI; BSA; Biomarker; CHB; Chronic hepatitis B; HBV; HCV; Liver fibrosis; MF; MR; MS; Mmultiple reaction monitoring; Multiple reaction monitoring; Proteomics; SF; SPAR; Transferrin; aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index; bovine serum albumin; chronic hepatitis B; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; mass spectrometry; mild fibrosis; severe fibrosis; summed peak areas ratio; two-dimensional gel electrophoresis