title: A novel serum marker, glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+)-M2BP), for assessing liver fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, a novel marker, hyperglycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+)-M2BP), was developed for liver fibrosis using the glycan "sugar chain"-based immunoassay; however, the feasibility of WFA(+)-M2BP for assessing liver fibrosis has not been proven with clinical samples of hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum WFA(+)-M2BP values were evaluated in 200 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent histological examination of liver fibrosis. The diagnostic accuracy of WFA(+)-M2BP values was compared with various fibrosis markers, such as ultrasound based-virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ), magnetic resonance imaging based-liver-to-major psoas muscle intensity ratio (LMR), and serum markers, including hyaluronic acid, type 4 collagen, and aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum WFA(+)-M2BP levels in patients with fibrosis grades F0, F1, F2, F3, and F4 had cutoff indices 1.62, 1.82, 3.02, 3.32, and 3.67, respectively, and there were significant differences between fibrosis stages F1 and F2, and between F2 and F3 (P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the diagnosis of fibrosis (F ≥ 3) using serum WFA(+)-M2BP values (0.812) was almost comparable to that using VTTQ examination (0.814), but was superior to the other surrogate markers, including LMR index (0.766), APRI (0.694), hyaluronic acid (0.683), and type 4 collagen (0.625) (P < 0.01 each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum WFA(+)-M2BP values based on a glycan-based immunoassay is an accurate, reliable, and reproducible method for the assessment of liver fibrosis. This approach could be clinically feasible for evaluation of beneficial therapy through the quantification of liver fibrosis in hepatitis patients if this measurement application is commercially realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toshima
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirabe
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Togayachi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narimatsu
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korenaga
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishie
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aishima
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; C114782:TAA90K protein, human; C040129:wisteria lectin