A Potential Novel Marker for Liver Fibrosis in NASH: the Soluble Secreted Form of the Human Asialoglycoprotein Receptor

NCT ID: NCT00941902

Last Updated: 2011-05-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 148 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-05-31
• Study Completion Date: 2011-02-28

Brief Summary

Soluble secreted proteins that are expressed uniquely in specific organs and whose formation of secretion is regulated by disease states are excellent markers for the disease. This is because the disease can be diagnosed by simply measuring the levels of the secreted protein in serum. A soluble form of the asialoglycoprotein receptor could be a promising candidate for such marker in the case of liver fibrosis secondary to steatohepatitis for which the existing markers are not satisfactory. The human asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is expressed only in hepatocytes. The H2a alternatively spliced variant of the ASGPR H2 subunit differs from H2b variant only by the presence of an extra pentapeptide. EGHRG, in the exoplasmic domain next to the membrane-spanning segment. H2a is rapidly cleaved to a36 kDa fragment, comprising the entire ectodomain, which is secreted. H2a does not participate in a membrane bound receptor complex with H1 as in the case for H2b and thus it is not a subunit of the receptor but a precursor for a soluble secreted form of the protein (sH2a). Although H2a is a type II transmembrane protein, signal peptidase is probably responsible for the cleavage to the soluble form.

The objective in this research proposal is to study the association between the level of sH2a. in the serum and the severity of fibrosis in steatohepatitis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery due to morbid obesity.

The existence of sH2a in normal human serum is at very constant levels. On the other hand the membrane ASGPR (expressed exclusively in hepatocytes) is profoundly down - regulated in liver cancer and cirrhosis. The investigators will analyze the levels of sH2a in serum from patients with steatohepatitis in different stages of fibrosis and compare with healthy subjects. A possible early down-regulation of sH2a in fibrosis may prove to be a valuable diagnostic tool.

Conditions

Liver Fibrosis

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Patients scheduled to bariatric surgery

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Signed informed consent.

2. Patient candidate to bariatric surgery.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Liver biopsy during the last 12 months.

2. The surgeon consider liver biopsy as a special dander in a specific patient.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 90 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ziv Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ziv Medical Center

Principal Investigators

Osamah Hussein, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ziv Medical Center

Locations

ZIV Medical Center

Safed, , Israel

Countries

Israel

Other Identifiers

0022-09 ZIV

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id