Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2023; 29(2): 272-285
Published online Jan 14, 2023. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i2.272
Table 1 Biomarkers of serum or feces identifying disease progression risk and activity
Sample
Biomarker
Outcome
Characteristic
SerumCRP[17-20]Monitor disease activity and mucosal healingWidely used and low-cost; lack of specificity for intestinal inflammation; relatively low sensitivity
SC[27]Disease burden, prognosis, and relapseMore representative of systemic inflammation
LRG[31]Monitor disease activity and mucosal healingMore correlated to activity in UC than CRP
Serum antibodies
ASCA[35,36]More aggressive fibro stenosing and internal penetrating disease behaviorsCD specificity
pANCA[35,37]UC disease activityUC specificity
Cytokines
G-CSF, IL-1Ra, PDGF-BB[38]Endoscopically active disease-
IL-6, IL-2[39]Predict disease relapse in quiescent CD-
Noncoding RNAs[32]Monitor disease activity and stricture phenotypes-
ECM components[32]Intestinal fibrosis and stenosis-
Growth factors[32]Intestinal fibrosis and stenosis-
Cathelicidin[40]Mucosal disease activity in UC, risk of intestinal stricture in CD, and clinical prognosis in IBD-
Trefoil Factor 3[41]Monitor disease activity-
Vitamin D[42]Disease activity-
Secondary biomarkers (CRP-albumin ratio, NLR, PLR, LMR)[29,30]IBD activityEasy to obtain; fluctuates greatly
FecesFC[21-26]Monitor disease activity and mucosal healing; early prediction of relapse riskHigher sensitivity than CRP; confounding of non-IBD gut inflammation
FL[28]Monitor disease activity and predict disease relapseHigher specificity than fecal calprotectin
MPO[44]Endoscopic activity in IBD and predict the disease course during follow-up-
Table 2 Biomarkers predicting treatment responses
Type of agent
Biomarker
Sample
Outcome
5-ASAInitial clinical activity, early treatment response of 5-ASA[46]-Predict long-term corticosteroid-free remission
GCsFC, UCEIS[47]FecesPredict the early outcome of GCs treatment
Biologics
TNF-α inhibitorsmTNF[51]EndoscopyPredict anti-TNF-α efficacy
TNF production capacity of PBMCs[52]BloodPredict anti-TNF-α efficacy
OSM[53,54]SerumUpregulate in anti-TNF-α non-responders
TREM1 expression[55]Blood and intestinal biopsiesPredict anti-TNF-α efficacy
Antibodies: ADA, pANCA, anti-OmpC[56]SerumAssociate with the response to infliximab
Mucosal TNF gene expression and IL1RL1- transcripts[57]Intestinal biopsiesPredict long-term remission after discontinuation of anti-TNF-α therapy
IL-23 inhibitorsIL-22, IL-17[58]SerumPredict anti-IL-23 efficacy
Integrin inhibitorsα4β7 on T, B, and NK cells[60,61]Blood and endoscopyPredict responses to vedolizumab
α4β7, VCAM-1, ICAM-1[62,63]SerumRemain controversial
IL-6, IL-8[64]SerumAssociate with the response to vedolizumab