肝纤维化患者血清核心岩藻糖基化低分子量激肽原和α-半乳糖基化抗体的表达及预测价值

Expression and predictive value of serum core fucosylated low molecular weight kininogen and alphagalactosylated antibodies in patients with hepatic fibrosis

目的:肝纤维化是许多慢性肝脏疾病的共同病理基础,可进展至肝硬化,是肝脏疾病的主要致死因素,而早期识别并逆转肝纤维化进程是慢性肝病治疗的关键,本研究旨在比较血清核心岩藻糖标志物低分子量激肽原(core fucosylated low molecular weight kininogen,LMWK-Fc)和α-半乳糖基化(alpha-galactosidase,α-Gal)抗体在不同阶段肝纤维化患者体内的表达情况,评估其诊断肝纤维化的效能。方法:回顾性纳入2022年6月至2023年3月在中南大学湘雅二医院感染科就诊的275例慢性肝病患者,其中115例患者接受了肝活检。根据病理结果显示的肝组织内胶原沉积对肝结构破坏范围、程度和肝微循环影响的大小将115例完善肝活检的患者分为0~4期:S0,肝组织内无明显胶原沉积,肝结构和肝微循环正常;S1,肝组织内有轻度胶原沉积,部分破坏肝小叶结构,但肝微循环基本正常;S2,肝组织内中度胶原沉积,部分破坏肝小叶结构和肝微循环;S3,肝组织内广泛胶原沉积,大量破坏肝小叶结构和肝微循环;S4,发展为肝硬化,肝组织内高度胶原沉积,肝小叶结构完全破坏,肝微循环严重受损。并根据分期标准分为无肝纤维化组(S0)、肝纤维化组(S1~S2)、显著纤维化组(S3~S4)。160例未完善肝活检的患者则按照肝硬度值(liverstiffness measurement,LSM)分为无肝纤维化组(F0:LSM<7.3k Pa)、肝纤维化组(F1~F2:LSM为7.3~12.4 kPa)、明显肝纤维化组(F3~F4:LSM>12.4 kPa)。采集患者的年龄、性别等基本人口学资料以及丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶、碱性磷酸酶、甲胎蛋白、血小板计数等实验室指标,计算肝纤维化-4指数(fibrosis-4 index,FIB-4)、天冬氨酸转氨酶/血小板比值指数(aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index,APRI),并对各项指标进行差异性分析;对入组的患者分别行血清LMWK-Fc和α-Gal抗体检测,比较各组间LMWK-Fc、α-Gal抗体及其他肝纤维化指标的表达情况;分析LMWK-Fc、α-Gal抗体表达水平与肝纤维化程度的相关性;采用受试者操作特征(receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线分析血清LMWK-Fc、α-Gal抗体水平预测肝纤维化的价值。结果:在未完善肝活检的160例患者中,血清α-Gal抗体及LMWK-Fc的表达水平在无肝纤维化组、肝纤维化组、明显肝纤维化组依次递增,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。在完善肝活检的115例患者中,血清LMWK-Fc水平在无纤维化组、肝纤维化组、显著肝纤维化组间依次增高,血清α-Gal抗体表达水平在显著肝纤维化组中高于无纤维化组、肝纤维化组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001,P=0.032)。单变量和多元线性回归分析结果显示肝纤维化与性别、LMWKFc水平均有相关性(均P<0.05),与年龄、α-Gal抗体水平、FIB-4和APRI均无相关性(均P>0.05)。结论:血清LMWK-Fc和α-Gal抗体在不同分级肝纤维化患者血清中的表达水平存在差异,可能与肝纤维化进展有一定的相关性,LMWK-Fc水平对肝纤维化诊断具有一定的预测价值。

Objective:Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological basis for many chronic liver diseases and can progress to cirrhosis,a leading cause of mortality in liver diseases.Early identification and reversal of hepatic fibrosis are key in the treatment of chronic liver disease.This study aims to compare the expression levels of serum core fucosylated low molecular weight kininogen(LMWK-Fc)and alpha-galactosylated(α-Gal)antibodies in patients with hepatic fibrosis at different stages,and to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy for hepatic fibrosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 275 patients with chronic liver disease who visited the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between June 2022 and March 2023.Among these,115 patients underwent liver biopsy.Based on the extent of collagen deposition and its impact on liver structure and microcirculation,patients were staged from 0 to 4:S0(no significant collagen deposition in liver tissues;liver structure and microcirculation are normal),S1(mild collagen deposition in liver tissues,with partial disruption of lobule structure,but microcirculation remains largely normal),S2(moderate collagen deposition in liver tissues,with partial disruption of lobule structure and microcirculation),S3(extensive collagen deposition in liver tissues,with substantial disruption of lobule structure and microcirculation),and S4(development of cirrhosis,with heavy collagen deposition,complete disruption of lobule structure,and severe impairment of microcirculation).Patients were grouped as no fibrosis(S0),fibrosis(S1-S2),and significant fibrosis(S3-S4).For the 160 patients without liver biopsy,they were categorized based on liver stiffness measurement(LSM)value:no fibrosis(F0:LSM<7.3 kPa),fibrosis(F1-F2:LSM 7.3-12.4 kPa),and significant fibrosis(F3-F4:LSM>12.4 kPa).Demographic data(age,gender)and laboratory indicators(alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,gamma-glutamyl transferase,alkaline phosphatase,alpha-fetoprotein,platelet count)were collected to calculate the fibrosis-4 index(FIB-4)and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI).Serum LMWK-Fc andα-Gal antibodies were measured and compared across the groups,and their correlation with fibrosis severity was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to assess the predictive value of serum LMWK-Fc andα-Gal antibody levels for hepatic fibrosis.Results:Among the 160 patients without complete liver biopsy,serumα-Gal antibody and LMWK-Fc levels increased progressively from the no fibrosis group to the significant©Journal of Central South University(Medical Science).All rights reserved.fibrosis group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Among the 115 patients with liver biopsy,serum LMWK-Fc levels were significantly higher in the fibrosis group and the significant fibrosis groups compared with the no fibrosis group,andα-Gal antibody levels were significantly higher in the significant fibrosis group compared with the no fibrosis group and the fibrosis group(P<0.001,P=0.032,respectively).Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that hepatic fibrosis was correlated with gender and LMWK-Fc levels(both P<0.05),but not with age,α-Gal antibody levels,FIB-4,or APRI(all P>0.05).Conclusion:The expression levels of serum LMWK-Fc andα-Gal antibodies vary across different stages of hepatic fibrosis,suggesting a potential association with fibrosis progression.LMWK-Fc levels have a certain predictive value for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.