Novel α-2-macroglobulin cleaved fragments as biomarkers of early liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim: Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C and is now progressively replaced by noninvasive procedures. We aimed at improving -2-macroglobulin diagnostic value for liver fibrosis by identifying new isoforms that may be specifically related to early stages of the pathology. Materials & methods: -2-Macroglobulin isoforms were characterized in serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C and mild (F1) to moderate (F2) fibrosis by proteomic methods. Results: New biological 40 kDa C-terminal -2-macroglobulin fragments were identified as potential biomarkers of early fibrosis (fold change = 1.55; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The serum concentration of -2-macroglobulin fragments allows a better differentiation of F1 and F2 fibrosis stages than total -2-macroglobulin isoforms.