Analysis of serum Haptoglobin using glycoproteomics and lectin immunoassay in liver diseases in Hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection is major cause in Asia-Pacific countries. Its early detection is of paramount importance using a marker having both sensitivity and specificity. The present study promises diagnostic and prognostic markers by the identification of site specific glycoforms on Haptoglobin (Hp) using LC-MS/MS and lectin ELISA in liver diseased conditions in HBV infection. Methods Three groups of patients: chronic, liver cirrhosis and HCC with HBV infection along with controls were enrolled. Hp was purified using affinity column chromatography and, peptide sequence, N-glycosylation site, glycan composition and glycoforms were identified using mass spectrometry. Quantitative lectin ELISA was used to measure levels of fucosylation on Hp in liver diseases due to HBV. Results Hp levels were significantly lower in HCC when compared with Non-HCC cases ( p p Conclusion Quantitation of fucosylation levels on Hp protein using Lectin ELISA may be useful glycobiomarker either alone or in combination (AFP + DCP + FucHp; AUC = 0.94) in HBV HCC diagnosis in clinical practice.