Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment

Abstract Background Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a leading cause of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis worldwide. The early detection of liver fibrosis remains challenging due to the lack of specific symptoms and noninvasive biomarkers with high sensitivity. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) ha...

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Main Authors: Shanshan Chu, Yingjun Chen, Yemin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03672-x
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author Shanshan Chu
Yingjun Chen
Yemin Wang
author_facet Shanshan Chu
Yingjun Chen
Yemin Wang
author_sort Shanshan Chu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a leading cause of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis worldwide. The early detection of liver fibrosis remains challenging due to the lack of specific symptoms and noninvasive biomarkers with high sensitivity. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for liver fibrosis. This study aims to evaluate the utility of PIGR in CHB patients as a biomarker for liver fibrosis. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 150 CHB patients from 2018 to 2023. Based on liver biopsy results, 34 patients were classified as having liver fibrosis, while 116 were categorized as non-fibrosis. Clinical data were compared to assess the relationship between PIGR expression levels and serum fibrosis indices. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing liver fibrosis, and the predictive value of PIGR was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Significant differences were observed in collagen type IV (CIV), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PCIIINP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels between the fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups (P < 0.05). PIGR levels were significantly higher in the fibrosis group (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with HA, laminin (LN), PCIII, and CIV levels (P < 0.05). Logistic regression identified HA, LN, PCIIINP, and CIV as risk factors, with PIGR being an independent predictor (P < 0.05). At a cutoff value of 0.35, PIGR showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.839, with 81.90% sensitivity, 79.41% specificity, and a Youden’s index of 0.613. PIGR also provided a higher net benefit than APRI. Conclusion PIGR levels are significantly elevated in CHB-related liver fibrosis and correlate closely with established fibrosis markers. As an independent predictor, PIGR demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy and holds promise as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting liver fibrosis in CHB patients, with significant potential for clinical application.
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spelling doaj-art-aa228a23f6fc453ea4549aa32b95f8062025-08-20T02:13:06ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-02-0125111010.1186/s12876-025-03672-xEnhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessmentShanshan Chu0Yingjun Chen1Yemin Wang2Department of Infectious Diseases, People’s Hospital of Tiantai CountyDepartment of Infectious Diseases, People’s Hospital of Tiantai CountyDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Tiantai CountyAbstract Background Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a leading cause of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis worldwide. The early detection of liver fibrosis remains challenging due to the lack of specific symptoms and noninvasive biomarkers with high sensitivity. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for liver fibrosis. This study aims to evaluate the utility of PIGR in CHB patients as a biomarker for liver fibrosis. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 150 CHB patients from 2018 to 2023. Based on liver biopsy results, 34 patients were classified as having liver fibrosis, while 116 were categorized as non-fibrosis. Clinical data were compared to assess the relationship between PIGR expression levels and serum fibrosis indices. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing liver fibrosis, and the predictive value of PIGR was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Significant differences were observed in collagen type IV (CIV), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PCIIINP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels between the fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups (P < 0.05). PIGR levels were significantly higher in the fibrosis group (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with HA, laminin (LN), PCIII, and CIV levels (P < 0.05). Logistic regression identified HA, LN, PCIIINP, and CIV as risk factors, with PIGR being an independent predictor (P < 0.05). At a cutoff value of 0.35, PIGR showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.839, with 81.90% sensitivity, 79.41% specificity, and a Youden’s index of 0.613. PIGR also provided a higher net benefit than APRI. Conclusion PIGR levels are significantly elevated in CHB-related liver fibrosis and correlate closely with established fibrosis markers. As an independent predictor, PIGR demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy and holds promise as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting liver fibrosis in CHB patients, with significant potential for clinical application.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03672-xPIGRChronic hepatitis BFibrosis
spellingShingle Shanshan Chu
Yingjun Chen
Yemin Wang
Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
BMC Gastroenterology
PIGR
Chronic hepatitis B
Fibrosis
title Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
title_full Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
title_fullStr Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
title_short Enhancing liver fibrosis detection: a novel PIGR-utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis B injury assessment
title_sort enhancing liver fibrosis detection a novel pigr utilizing approach in chronic hepatitis b injury assessment
topic PIGR
Chronic hepatitis B
Fibrosis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03672-x
work_keys_str_mv AT shanshanchu enhancingliverfibrosisdetectionanovelpigrutilizingapproachinchronichepatitisbinjuryassessment
AT yingjunchen enhancingliverfibrosisdetectionanovelpigrutilizingapproachinchronichepatitisbinjuryassessment
AT yeminwang enhancingliverfibrosisdetectionanovelpigrutilizingapproachinchronichepatitisbinjuryassessment