Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein Could Not Always Predict Early Cirrhosis in Non-Viral Liver Diseases

Abstract

Background: Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2-binding protein (WFA(+)-M2BP) is a novel non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis. The goal of the study was to investigate whether the novel serum biomarker WFA(+)-M2BP or other non-invasive markers are useful for the prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods: We examined a significant correlation between serum WFA(+)-M2BP levels and histological staging of fibrosis in several chronic liver diseases, such as NASH, AIH, and PBC. Results: WFA(+)-M2BP could not predict hepatic fibrosis in these patients. We also showed that the level of platelet counts is a useful predictor of hepatic fibrosis progression in patients with NASH, AIH, and PBC. There was a significant correlation between staging of fibrosis and grading of activity in the liver in all groups except for AIH patients. Conclusion: Platelet counts can predict hepatic fibrosis in patients with NASH, AIH, or PBC. Clinicians should pay attention to the grading of liver activity in the use of WFA(+)-M2BP.

Serum microRNA-122 and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein are useful tools for liquid biopsy of the patients with hepatitis B virus and advanced liver fibrosis

“…Serum WFA(+)-M2BP was measured using an HISCL M2BPGi assay kit (Sysmex Co., Kobe, Japan) [ 17 ]. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR) was calculated using the following equation: AAR = AST/ALT.…”

“…Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein [WFA(+)-M2BP] is a newly recognized fibrosis marker that was developed as a marker for HCV infection in Japan [ 16 , 17 ]. M2BP is a heavily N-glycosylated glycoprotein and is secreted as a ligand of galectin-3 (Mac-2) [ 18 ].…”

“…M2BP is a heavily N-glycosylated glycoprotein and is secreted as a ligand of galectin-3 (Mac-2) [ 18 ]. Changes in the quality and quantity of M2BP produced are observed during the progression of fibrosis, and these are induced by changes in N-glycosylation [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Biomarkers for primary biliary cholangitis: current perspectives

“… 86 In fact, both these biomarkers were only able to identify extensive fibrosis, but as another study has shown, there is considerable overlap with earlier fibrotic stages. 87 …”

Daily Monitoring of Serum <i>Wisteria floribunda</i> Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein Is Useful for Predicting Therapeutic Effect of Tolvaptan in Cirrhotic Ascites

“…Furthermore, the WFA + -M2BP levels were positively correlated with levels of AST and ALT, which are markers of liver inflammation. These results suggest that WFA + -M2BP levels are increased in patients with hepatic functional reserve deterioration or severe inflammation; histological analysis was not performed in this study (Haga et al 2016;Nishikawa et al 2016;Ishii et al 2017).…”