{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Antimicrobial glycoprotein 2 (GP2) in gallstones, bile fluid and peribiliary glands of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. {Author}: Lopens S;Schierack P;Krause J;Piaszczyński M;Król R;Staroń R;Krupa Ł;Gutkowski K;Kruk B;Grąt M;Krawczyk M;Patkowski W;Glaser F;Rödiger S;Grossmann K;Pająk J;Milkiewicz P;Lammert F;Zieniewicz K;Schramm C;Roggenbuck D;Krawczyk M; {Journal}: Clin Chim Acta {Volume}: 562 {Issue}: 0 {Year}: 2024 Aug 15 {Factor}: 6.314 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119841 {Abstract}: BACKGROUND: Glycoprotein-2 (GP2) IgA is a predictor of disease severity in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We examined GP2's occurrence in the biliary tract, the site of inflammation.
METHODS: GP2 was analyzed using ELISA, immunoblotting, mass spectrometry, and immunohistochemistry. The samples included: 20 bile and 30 serum samples from PSC patients, 23 bile and 11 serum samples from patients with gallstone disease (GD), 15 bile samples from healthy individuals undergoing liver-donation surgery (HILD), 20 extracts of gallstones (GE) obtained during cholecystectomy, and 101 blood-donor sera.
RESULTS: Biliary GP2 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with PSC and GD than in HILD (p < 0.0001). Serum GP2 levels were similar in PSC and GD patients, and controls, but lower than in bile (p < 0.0001). GP2 was detected in all 20 GEs. Mass spectrometry identified GP2 in the bile of 2 randomly selected GD and 2 PSC patients, and in none of 2 HILD samples. GP2 was found in peribiliary glands in 8 out of 12 PSC patients, showing morphological changes in acinar cells, but not in GD-gallbladders.
CONCLUSIONS: GP2 is present in bile of PSC and GD patients. It is synthesized in the peribiliary glands of PSC patients, supporting a pathogenic role for biliary GP2 in PSC.