Serum S100A8/A9 as a Potentially Sensitive Biomarker for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background: The clinical significance of human S100A8/A9 (h-S100A8/A9) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood.

Objective: To clarify whether serum S100A8/A9 is a sensitive biomarker for IBD.

Methods: Serum specimens from outpatients with IBD (n = 101) and healthy volunteers (HVs) (n = 101) were used in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for h-S100A8/A9 and inflammatory cytokines were performed using these specimens. Further, correlation analysis was performed to investigate the significance of h-S100A8/A9 fluctuation in patients with IBD.

Results: The average of serum h-S100A8/A9 concentration in outpatients with IBD was significantly higher than that in HVs. The concentration of h-S100A8/A9 in patients with IBD was barely correlated with that of CRP and inflammatory cytokines. Despite that finding, the serum level of h-S100A8/A9 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) was correlated with the severity of IBD, compared with other inflammatory proteins.

Conclusion: Serum h-S100A8/A9 is superior to CRP as a sensitive biomarker for IBD.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; biomarker; h-S100A8/A9; inflammatory bowel disease; inflammatory cytokines, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.