BloodN-glycomic signature of fibrosis in MASLD shows low levels of global α2,3-sialylation
Authors: Pongracz Tamas , Verwer Bart , Mak Anne Linde , Mayboroda Oleg A. , Nicolardi Simone , Bladergroen Marco R. , Wang Wenjun , Biewenga Maaike , Nieuwdorp Max , Verheij Joanne , Holleboom Adriaan G. (Onno) , van Hoek Bart , de Haan Noortje , Wuhrer Manfred , Tushuizen Maarten E. 
Published: September 2024

Background & Aims

Alterations in the glycosylation of blood proteins affect protein functionality and have been linked to various diseases. Metabolic dysfunction- associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a silent disease, of which progression to advanced disease stages including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis often goes unnoticed. As current non- invasive diagnostic tests lack specificity, the purpose of this work was to study total blood proteinN-glycosylation in individuals with MASLD and various degrees of fibrosis as compared to healthy controls.

Methods

In two independent cross-sectional cohort studies, bloodN-glycosylation analysis was performed by mass spectrometry on released glycans of overall 132 MASLD patients and 99 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Relationships between glycosylation traits and the disease spectrum of MASLD including fibrotic MASLD were investigated in comparison to healthy controls. Furthermore, publicly available transcriptomics datasets were used to explore glycosyltransferase expression in patients with MASLD.

Results

Globally lower α2,3-sialylation distinguished MASLD from healthy controls (OR [CI]=0.36; [0.18-0.67];p-value=0.019, and 0.11 [0.04-0.24];p-value<0.000001), as well as non-fibrotic MASLD from its fibrotic counterparts (OR: 0.13 [0.06-0.26];p- value<0.0001), but showed no association with steatohepatitis activity. HepaticST3GAL6, a sialyltransferase responsible forN-glycan α2,3-sialylation, negatively associated with fibrosis progression, similar to the observed glycomic signature. Both glycomic and transcriptomic signatures were replicated in independent cohorts.

Conclusions

Fibrotic MASLD is characterized by a global decrease of blood protein α2,3-sialylation and according decrease in hepatic α2,3-sialyltransferase expression, associating with disease progression. These findings suggest alterations in theN- glycan biosynthetic pathway and are potentially useful in the early diagnosis of fibrosis in MASLD.

Lay Summary

Non-invasive markers of fibrotic MASLD perform suboptimal. This research identified that changes in blood protein glycosylation coincide with fibrosis development, offering blood-based markers that could potentially replace a liver biopsy.

What You Need to Know

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The majority of the plasma glycoproteins is synthesized in the liver and changes to their glycosylation are known to affect their function and to associate with liver disorders.

NEW FINDINGS

MASLD patients exhibit lower α2,3-sialylation on the complete range of their blood protein N-glycans, which coincides with the histological appearance of fibrosis, mediated likely via downregulation of hepaticST3GAL6.

LIMITATIONS

While the findings of this study has could have implications for diagnosing fibrotic MASLD, the identified glycomic signature needs to be confirmed in a larger, ideally prospective patient cohort.

CLINICAL RESEARCH RELEVANCE

By identifying specific signatures in the blood protein N-glycome, this research offers potential non-invasive markers for early diagnosis and monitoring of fibrosis in MASLD. Non-invasive diagnosis could potentially lessen the need for liver biopsies, and allow for timely intervention and improved disease management, ultimately leading to improvement of patient outcomes and the reduction of liver-related morbidity and mortality.

BASIC RESEARCH RELEVANCE

The observed glycomic and transcriptomic signatures offer molecular-level insights into fibrosis development in MASLD. This paves the way for future research at the intersection of glycoscience and hepatology, that will offer deeper insights into the pathophysiology of this liver disease.