Serum hyaluronic acid level: Correlation with quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The serum level of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been suggested as a useful serologic marker for hepatic fibrosis. However, the relationship between serum HA levels and quantitative markers of fibrosis from liver tissue has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between serum HA level and quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model. METHODS: Cirrhosis was produced by common bile duct ligation (BDL) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were classified into four groups: (1) G1, sham operated (n=5); (2) G2, BDL for 2 weeks (n=6); (3) G3, BDL for 3 weeks (n=6); and (4) G4, BDL for 4 weeks (n=6). Hepatic fibrosis was analyzed histomorphologically using the Batts and Ludwig scoring system. Serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content were quantified. The gene expressions in the liver of procollagen, collagen, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In groups G1, G2, G3, and G4, the Batts and Ludwig scores (mean+/-SD) were 0, 1.3+/-0.5, 2.6+/-0.5, and 3.4+/-0.5, respectively (P<0.05), serum HA levels were 12.5+/-3.2, 30.0+/-4.3, 228.6+/-157.7, and 391.3+/-207.7 ng/mL (P<0.05), and the concentration of hydroxyproline was 12.4+/-2.8, 17.6+/-3.8, 17.9+/-2.4, and 33.4+/-3.4 microgram/g liver tissue, and it was significantly higher in group G4 than in the other groups (P<0.05). The gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, and TGF-beta1 in the liver were also significantly higher in group G4 compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Direct linear correlations were observed between serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content, hepatic gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, TGF-beta1, and histomorphological grade of hepatic fibrosis (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that serum HA is a useful and noninvasive serologic marker for the evaluation of advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Concentração sérica de procolágeno amino-terminal tipo III como marcador de fibrose hepática em lactentes com hepatopatia crônica / Serum concentration of type III aminoterminal procollagen as a marker of hepatic fibrosis in infants with chronic hepatitis

Objetivo: avaliar comparativamente os níveis séricos de PIIP com estudo histológico de lactentes hepatopatas. Foram avaliados 38 pacientes, com idade entre 5 e 104 semanas, com hepatopatia crônica de diferentes causas. A análise histológica foi feita segundo escore de Knodell, demonstrando 4 pacientes com escore 0, 11 com escore 1, 20 com escore 2 e três com escore 4...

Evaluation of transforming growth factor-, procollagen III and tissue polypeptide antigen in carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder

Carcinoma in bilharzial bladder is among the most important health problems. The development of the tumor and its biological behavior needs to be well predicted. To approach this problem, this study determined cytosolar levels of transforming group growth factor beta [TGF-beta], procollagen III [PIIINP] and tissue polypeptide antigen [TPA] in cytosols of 27 patients with carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder as well as 18 patients with benign bilharzial lesions. The results were compared with the corresponding values in eight bilharzial control tissues obtained 5 cm apart from benign bilharzial lesions and seven healthy bladder tissues. The study revealed significantly increased levels of TGF-beta, PIIINP and TPA compared with benign bilharzial controls and healthy controls. Also, the levels in benign bilharzial lesions were significantly higher than bilharzial or healthy controls. Despite the higher levels of TGF- beta, PIIINP and TPA in bilharzial compared with healthy controls, the difference was significant only in case of TPA. This data clarify the importance role played by TGF-beta in the pathophysiology of carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder, where it is increased in bilharzial infestation and benign bilharzial lesions reaching its highest concentrations in malignant lesions. Moreover, it seems to act as an angiogenic factor, immunodepressant as well as stimulator of collagen synthesis