title: Association between Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein and the fibrosis stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurately evaluating liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is important for identifying those who may develop complications. The aims of this study were (1) to measure serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+)-M2BP) using the glycan sugar chain-based immunoassay and (2) to compare the results with clinical assessments of fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum WFA(+)-M2BP values were retrospectively evaluated in 289 patients with NAFLD who had undergone liver biopsy. Histological findings were evaluated by three blinded, experienced liver-specific pathologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For stages 0 (n = 35), 1 (n = 113), 2 (n = 49), 3 (n = 41), and 4 (n = 51) of liver fibrosis, the serum WFA(+)-M2BP cutoff indexes were 0.57, 0.70, 1.02, 1.57, and 2.96, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that serum WFA(+)-M2BP values were associated with the stage of fibrosis (≥stage 2). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity of serum WFA(+)-M2BP were 0.876, 85.9, and 74.6%, respectively, for severe fibrosis (≥stage 3) and were 0.879, 74.6, and 87.0%, respectively, for cirrhosis. When compared with six non-invasive conventional markers, serum WFA(+)-M2BP had the greatest AUROC for diagnosing severe fibrosis and cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum WFA(+)-M2BP values are useful for assessing the stage of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan, masaben@m.ehime-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Teruki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hige
authors.forename: Michiie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Gotaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kage
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korenaga
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narimatsu
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; C114782:TAA90K protein, human; C040129:wisteria lectin