Purpose: Alteration of liver function during progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis affects the serum glycoprotein pattern. In this study, the changes in the N-glycome in liver tissue from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus infection were investigated to find out the relationship between this maker and liver disease. Methods: Twenty patients, 11 with cirrhosis and 9 with hepatocellular carcinoma, and 15 healthy donors were

more »

... ed in this study. Liver protein N-glycans were profiled using the DSA-FACE technique developed in our laboratory. To further analyze the fucosylation status of these liver glycans Western lectin blots of total liver proteins were performed using Aspergillus oryzae lectin (AOL) as probe, which is a carbohydratebinding protein that recognizes specifically α-1,6-fucosylated glycans. Results: The N-glycome of liver proteins in patients with HBV related HCC and cirrhosis was analyzed. Compared with healthy donors, the N-glycome had significantly less (p < 0.05) high mannose (M8) in both groups of patients. The total core α-1,6-fucosy-lation in total liver glycoproteins was dramatically increased during the progress of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis compared to the controls. Conclusion: These results show that fucosylation not only increases in serum proteins but also in liver tissue itself of patients with HBV related HCC and cirrhosis.