ORIGINAL PAPER
The use of transferrin isoforms to differentiate cholestatic liver diseases
1
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
2
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
3
Department of Paediatric Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
Submission date: 2024-09-11
Final revision date: 2025-06-06
Acceptance date: 2025-06-14
Publication date: 2026-06-29
Corresponding author
Lech Chrostek
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics Medical University of Bialystok Bialystok, Poland
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics Medical University of Bialystok Bialystok, Poland
Medical Studies 2026;42(2):174-179
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
There are two main chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which may lead to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis and consequent disturbances in protein and glycoprotein synthesis and glycosylation. One of the glycoproteins synthesised in the liver is transferrin (TRF).
Aim of the research:
The aim of the study was to compare the serum profile of TRF isoforms in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases and extrahepatic cholestasis.
Material and methods:
The study groups consisted of 76 patients with PBC, 100 patients with PSC, and 40 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis. Capillary electrophoresis was used to determine the profile of TRF isoforms.
Results:
The differences in the TRF glycosylation occur in PBC and extrahepatic cholestasis. The mean concentrations of di- and trisialotransferrin were significantly lower in PBC patients than those in the controls. Additionally, the concentration of disialotransferrin differed significantly between the PBC and PSC groups. The area under the ROC curve for disialotransferrin in PBC patients (AUC = 0.819) was significantly higher than for PSC patients (AUC = 0.572). In turn, the mean concentrations of pentasialotransferrin in PBC and PSC were higher, and the mean concentrations of tetra- and disialotransferrin were lower in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases than in extrahepatic cholestasis. None of the transferrin isoforms showed differences depending on the stage of liver fibrosis.
Conclusions:
These differences enable the use of TRF isoforms in the differential diagnosis between these diseases.
There are two main chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which may lead to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis and consequent disturbances in protein and glycoprotein synthesis and glycosylation. One of the glycoproteins synthesised in the liver is transferrin (TRF).
Aim of the research:
The aim of the study was to compare the serum profile of TRF isoforms in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases and extrahepatic cholestasis.
Material and methods:
The study groups consisted of 76 patients with PBC, 100 patients with PSC, and 40 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis. Capillary electrophoresis was used to determine the profile of TRF isoforms.
Results:
The differences in the TRF glycosylation occur in PBC and extrahepatic cholestasis. The mean concentrations of di- and trisialotransferrin were significantly lower in PBC patients than those in the controls. Additionally, the concentration of disialotransferrin differed significantly between the PBC and PSC groups. The area under the ROC curve for disialotransferrin in PBC patients (AUC = 0.819) was significantly higher than for PSC patients (AUC = 0.572). In turn, the mean concentrations of pentasialotransferrin in PBC and PSC were higher, and the mean concentrations of tetra- and disialotransferrin were lower in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases than in extrahepatic cholestasis. None of the transferrin isoforms showed differences depending on the stage of liver fibrosis.
Conclusions:
These differences enable the use of TRF isoforms in the differential diagnosis between these diseases.
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| eISSN: | 2300-6722 |
| ISSN: | 1899-1874 |
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