Anti-integrin αvβ6 Autoantibodies in the Recurrence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Following Liver Transplantation
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Prediction and diagnosis of recurrent primary sclerosing cholangitis (rPSC) after liver transplantation remain challenging. We investigated anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody titers and their association with rPSC development. Methods Twenty-three patients with PSC with serial serum samples and liver biopsies after liver transplantation were included. rPSC was diagnosed according to the 2024 Japanese diagnostic criteria. Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody titers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Fold changes (FCs) in antibody titers were calculated relative to each patient’s pre-transplant baseline, and the maximum FC during post-transplant follow-up was defined as FCmax. Results Antibody titers significantly decreased at the first postoperative measurement compared with the pre-transplant level. Ten of 23 patients developed rPSC. Three patients whose ulcerative colitis activity changed after transplantation were excluded from further analysis, leaving 20 patients. The maximum absolute antibody titer during post-transplant follow-up was not associated with rPSC development. However, FCmax was significantly higher in patients with rPSC than in those without rPSC (1.381 vs. 0.514, P = 0.041), with an AUC of 0.781. Conclusions Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody titers significantly decreased after liver transplantation for PSC. Post-transplant antibody re-elevation relative to the pre-transplant baseline was significantly associated with the development of rPSC.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Koki Chikugo, Takeshi Kuwada, Masahiro Shiokawa, Yoshihiro Nishikawa, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Tatsuki Hirai, Nagomi Mankawa, Ryo Ito, Kota Hashimoto, Yuki Mori, Fumioki Toyoda, Ayako Hirata, Kenji Sawada, Takafumi Yanaidani, Masataka Yokode, Yuya Muramoto, Sakiko Ota, Tomonori Hirano, Yuko Sogabe, Nobuyuki Kakiuchi, Tomoaki Matsumori, Yasuhide Takeuchi, Hajime Yamazaki, Takashi Ito, Tsutomu Chiba, Hironori Haga, Etsuro Hatano, Hiroshi Seno
Language: English
Topic: Liver Diseases and Immunity
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212047418