Serum-Derived Hyaluronan-Associated Protein Is a Novel Biomarker for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background/aims: We evaluated the role of serum-derived hyaluronan-associated protein (SHAP) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis and its potential as a novel IBD biomarker.

Methods: We studied the SHAP expression in a mouse model of colitis and in human intestinal samples of IBD and compared serum concentrations with normal controls.

Results: SHAP was expressed in the connective tissue derived from inflamed regions of the intestine. In mice, serum levels of SHAP-hyaluronic acid (SHAP-HA) were positively correlated with the histological damage of the colon (r = 0.566, p < 0.001). Serum concentration of SHAP-HA complex was significantly higher in patients with active ulcerative colitis than in those in remission, and this value was positively correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and endoscopic damage (r = 0.568, p < 0.001; r = 0.521, p < 0.001, and r = 0.641, p < 0.001). In patients with Crohn's disease, the serum SHAP-HA level correlated only with TNF-α (r = 0.630, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: SHAP is a novel IBD biomarker that is related to disease activity in certain types of colitis, and it may affect disease pathogenesis. Future studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of this complex.