Disease specific alterations of the bile-duct derived biliary proteome in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Background and aims: Bile proteomic analysis in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) revealed already disease activity and malignancy specific alterations. We aimed to establish a reference bile-duct derived bile proteome of PSC in absence of infectious or malignant conditions to provide insight into underlying biliary pathophysiology. Methods: Bile duct-derived bile samples were collected from PSC patients without signs of bacterial cholangitis (n = 6) or patients with choledocholithiasis (n = 6, the control group). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to analyse the proteins,…