Assessment of Collagen III as a Non-Invasive Biomarker in HCV Induced Liver Fibrotic Patients

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Liver biopsy is still the gold typical for assessing hepatic fibrosis. Non-invasive serum parameters measurement leads to essential changes in diagnosis. This procedure is painful, carries a risk of bleeding and infection, and is accompanied by a high sampling error rate. New biomarkers that can accurately predict the stage of fibrosis are urgently needed. Objectives This study aimed to identify, characterize, and detect serum collagen III in patients with HCV-induced liver fibrosis and healthy subjects. Methods/Case Report The study subjects were divided into two groups; group1: included 118 patients with HCV-induced liver fibrosis (60 males and 58 females). Group2: included 50 healthy comparable control subjects (27 males and 23 females). Collagen III was identified in serum samples of group1 at 70 kDa using collagen III polyclonal antibody and western blot analysis techniques. Additionally, it was purified from serum samples using the electroelution technique from preparative slab gels. The purified antigen gives a single sharp band at 70 kDa when resolved by SDS–PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and stained with coomassie blue. The 70 kDa purified collagen III showed high reactivity towards the collagen III polyclonal antibody. We used the ELISA method to quantify the collagen III, dose-response curve for purified collagen III as a function of the concentration in serum samples of liver fibrosis patients was done. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The collagen III was identified in 62% of patients, and 38 % were negative collagen III (false negative) in group one. For group two, 96% of total healthy volunteers were negative for collagen III, and 4% were positive for collagen III (false positive). The mean ± SD of serum collagen III concentration was (8.38±3.56) and (3.2±0.59) for groups 1 and 2, respectively, with (P<0.0001). Conclusion The non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis by collagen III has shown promising diagnostic and prognostic potential.