Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are chronic inflammatory biliary diseases characterized by progressive damage of the bile ducts, resulting in hepatobiliary fibrosis and cirrhosis. Currently, specific biomarkers that allow to distinguish between PSC and PBC...

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Main Authors: Elisa Ceccherini, Antonio Morlando, Francesco Norelli, Barbara Coco, Massimo Bellini, Maurizia Rossana Brunetto, Antonella Cecchettini, Silvia Rocchiccioli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5783
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author Elisa Ceccherini
Antonio Morlando
Francesco Norelli
Barbara Coco
Massimo Bellini
Maurizia Rossana Brunetto
Antonella Cecchettini
Silvia Rocchiccioli
author_facet Elisa Ceccherini
Antonio Morlando
Francesco Norelli
Barbara Coco
Massimo Bellini
Maurizia Rossana Brunetto
Antonella Cecchettini
Silvia Rocchiccioli
author_sort Elisa Ceccherini
collection DOAJ
description Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are chronic inflammatory biliary diseases characterized by progressive damage of the bile ducts, resulting in hepatobiliary fibrosis and cirrhosis. Currently, specific biomarkers that allow to distinguish between PSC and PBC do not exist. In this study, we examined the salivary proteome by carrying out a comprehensive and non-invasive screening aimed at highlighting possible quali-quantitative protein deregulations that could be the starting point for the identification of effective biomarkers in future. Saliva samples collected from 6 PBC patients were analyzed using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry technique, and the results were compared with those previously obtained in the PSC group. We identified 40 proteins as significantly deregulated in PSC patients compared to the PBC group. The Gene Ontology and pathway analyses highlighted that several proteins (e.g., small integral membrane protein 22, cofilin-1, macrophage-capping protein, plastin-2, and biliverdin reductase A) were linked to innate immune responses and actin cytoskeleton remodeling, which is a critical event in liver fibrosis and cancer progression. These findings provide new foundations for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of PSC and demonstrate that saliva is a suitable biological sample for obtaining proteomic fingerprints useful in the search for biomarkers capable of discriminating between the two cholestatic diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-4b9b92bd4e5345029d669b6921b8ac912025-08-20T02:50:34ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012923578310.3390/molecules29235783Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC PatientsElisa Ceccherini0Antonio Morlando1Francesco Norelli2Barbara Coco3Massimo Bellini4Maurizia Rossana Brunetto5Antonella Cecchettini6Silvia Rocchiccioli7Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, ItalyHepatology Unit, Reference Centre of the Tuscany Region for Chronic Liver Disease and Cancer, University Hospital of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyHepatology Unit, Reference Centre of the Tuscany Region for Chronic Liver Disease and Cancer, University Hospital of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, ItalyPrimary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are chronic inflammatory biliary diseases characterized by progressive damage of the bile ducts, resulting in hepatobiliary fibrosis and cirrhosis. Currently, specific biomarkers that allow to distinguish between PSC and PBC do not exist. In this study, we examined the salivary proteome by carrying out a comprehensive and non-invasive screening aimed at highlighting possible quali-quantitative protein deregulations that could be the starting point for the identification of effective biomarkers in future. Saliva samples collected from 6 PBC patients were analyzed using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry technique, and the results were compared with those previously obtained in the PSC group. We identified 40 proteins as significantly deregulated in PSC patients compared to the PBC group. The Gene Ontology and pathway analyses highlighted that several proteins (e.g., small integral membrane protein 22, cofilin-1, macrophage-capping protein, plastin-2, and biliverdin reductase A) were linked to innate immune responses and actin cytoskeleton remodeling, which is a critical event in liver fibrosis and cancer progression. These findings provide new foundations for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of PSC and demonstrate that saliva is a suitable biological sample for obtaining proteomic fingerprints useful in the search for biomarkers capable of discriminating between the two cholestatic diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5783primary sclerosing cholangitisprimary biliary cholangitissalivaproteomicsLC-MS/MScytoskeleton
spellingShingle Elisa Ceccherini
Antonio Morlando
Francesco Norelli
Barbara Coco
Massimo Bellini
Maurizia Rossana Brunetto
Antonella Cecchettini
Silvia Rocchiccioli
Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
Molecules
primary sclerosing cholangitis
primary biliary cholangitis
saliva
proteomics
LC-MS/MS
cytoskeleton
title Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
title_full Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
title_fullStr Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
title_full_unstemmed Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
title_short Cytoskeleton Remodeling-Related Proteins Represent a Specific Salivary Signature in PSC Patients
title_sort cytoskeleton remodeling related proteins represent a specific salivary signature in psc patients
topic primary sclerosing cholangitis
primary biliary cholangitis
saliva
proteomics
LC-MS/MS
cytoskeleton
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5783
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