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Poster presentations: Clinical: Diagnosis and Outcome 2020

P117 Biomarkers of extracellular matrix remodelling are associated with intestinal fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance enterography and accumulated intestinal damage (Lémann index): the IBSEN study

J. Mortensen1, A.K. Lunder2, T. Manon-Jensen1, M.A. Karsdal1, M.J. Nielsen1, D.J. Leeming1, J.R. Hov3, A. Negård2,4, J. Jahnsen4,5, B. Moum4,6, M. Vesterhus7,8,9,10, M.L. Høivik11, V.A. Kristensen11

1Nordic Bioscience A/S, Department of Biomarkers and Research, Herlev, Denmark, 2Akershus University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Lørenskog, Norway, 3University of Oslo, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo, Norway, 4University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo, Norway, 5Akershus University Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Lørenskog, Norway, 6University Hospital Oslo, Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo, Norway, 7Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Norwegian PSC Research Center, Oslo, Norway, 8Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Department of Medicine, Bergen, Norway, 9University of Bergen, Department of Clinical Science, Bergen, Norway, 10Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo, Norway, 11Oslo University Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo, Norway

Background

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) has become an important tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn’s disease (CD). MRE findings are used in the calculation of the Lémann index (LI), a score that quantifies accumulated bowel damage. However, calculating the score is demanding; thus, serum biomarkers reflecting tissue damage and fibrosis are warranted for monitoring purposes. Increased extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling and collagen tissue deposition is the result of accumulated bowel damage, eventually leading to intestinal fibrosis; particularly, the basement membrane and interstitial matrix are affected. We aimed to investigate ECM serum biomarkers of type III collagen formation (PRO-C3), type IV collagen degradation (C4M), degradation of citrullinated vimentin (VICM) and their association with LI and the degree of bowel wall fibrosis assessed by contrast-enhanced MRE in CD patients.

Methods

Serum from CD patients was analysed (n = 85, part of IBSEN population). Competitive ELISA was applied for the quantification of PRO-C3, C4M and VICM in the serum samples. The LI score was calculated based on the surgical history, MRE findings and the endoscopy findings. The suggested cut-off for substantial bowel damage is LI >/= 2. Increased contrast enhancement of the bowel wall at 5 min and the presence of stenosis on MRE was considered severe fibrosis. Student’s t-test, Spearman’s r correlation and one-way-ANOVA with FDR correction was applied for statistical analysis.

Results

Serum levels of C4M were elevated in patients with confirmed fibrosis by contrast MRE compared with patients without fibrosis (p = 0.031, AUC: 0.61) (Figure 1A). VICM correlated to the LI score in CD patients (r = 0.26, p = 0.015) and serum VICM levels were elevated in patients with an LI score >2 (p = 0.005, AUC: 0.67) (Figure 1B). VICM was significantly associated with intestinal damage for LI > 20 (LI 0 vs. >20: p = 0.005, AUC: 0.72). PRO-C3 was not associated with intestinal damage or intestinal fibrosis.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the accumulated intestinal damage and the bowel wall fibrosis in CD are associated with elevated serum levels of VICM and C4M, respectively. Thus, serological biomarkers of basement membrane degradation and inflammation may be a useful tool to monitor intestinal tissue damage and fibrosis development.