SEQUENTIAL STUDY OF SERUM GLYCOPROTEIN FUCOSYLATION IN ACUTE HEPATITIS

Background: alpha-Fetoprotein is a useful diagnostic marker in hepatoc ellular carcinoma, during which its serum level increases and its glyc an structure is hyperfucosylated. Normally-expressed glycoproteins (al pha 1-antitrypsin and transferrin) are also hyperfucosylated in hepato cellular carcinoma. alpha-fetoprotein serum levels are also increased in conditions associated with hepatic regeneration, such as acute hepa titis. We conducted a longitudinal study of the alpha 1-6 fucosylation pattern of serum alpha-fetoprotein in ten patients with acute hepatit is and compared it to that of transferrin and alpha 1-antitrypsin. Met hods: Protein levels were measured by using immunochemical assays. Cro ssed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis in the presence of Lens culinaris agg lutinin was performed for each protein, and the fucosylation index, co rresponding to the agglutinin reactive fraction, was determined. The r esults were compared to those in 25 healthy donors and five newborns. Results: alpha-Fetoprotein was hyperfucosylated and remained stable th roughout the course of the disease. In contrast, serum transferrin and alpha 1-antitrypsin gradually became hyperfucosylated during the cour se of acute hepatitis. The transferrin and alpha 1-antitrypsin fucosyl ation indexes correlated with each other, but not with the alpha-fetop rotein fucosylation index. No correlation was found between alpha-feto protein, alpha 1-antitrypsin and transferrin fucosylation indexes and the corresponding glycoprotein serum levels. Conclusions: Hyperfucosyl ation of alpha-fetoprotein is not specific to hepatocellular carcinoma . Increased alpha 1-6 fucosylation should not be considered solely as a tumour marker, but might also reflect cell proliferation. The study of alpha 1-6 hyperfucosylation process of normally-expressed glycoprot eins awaits further investigation, to test its usefulness as a new mar ker of liver regeneration during the follow-up of acute hepatitis.