Non-invasive markers for hepatic fibrosis

Caffeine protects against alcohol-induced liver fibrosis by dampening the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in rat hepatic stellate cells

Alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) is characterized by hyperplasia of extracellular matrix under long-term alcohol stimulation. Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation plays an important role in promoting hepatic fibrogenesis. Caffeine, as the main active component of coffee and tea, was widely consumed in daily life. It was always a thought that caffeine can reduce the probability of suffering from liver diseases. In this study, we attempt to validate the hypothesis that caffeine inhibits activation of HSCs which were isolated from rat ALF model. The rats were gavaged by ethanol to establish ALF model and then treated with different concentrations of caffeine or colchicine. Serum was collected to measure the contents of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and type IV collagen (CIV). Then liver tissues were obtained for hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius-red staining. Others were treated through liver perfusion to isolate primary rat HSCs. Interestingly, we found that caffeine significantly decreased ALT, AST, HA, LN, PIIINP and CIV levels and reversed liver fibrosis in rat ALF models. Results of immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and western blot indicated that caffeine could reduce fibrosis and inhibit cAMP/PKA/CREB signal pathway in HSC. Caffeine has a preventive effect on ALF. The mechanism may be interpreted that caffeine inhibits the cAMP/PKA/CREB signal pathway through adenosine A2A receptors in HSC.

Comparison of noninvasive scores for the detection of advanced fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

The presence of advanced liver fibrosis portends a poor prognosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of five noninvasive scores [aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio (APRI), BARD, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score (NFSA), and FibroMeter] for the assessment of advanced stages of fibrosis (F ≥ 3) in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

METHODS

APRI, BARD, FIB-4, NFSA, and FibroMeter scores were determined in 142 patients with NAFLD. The histopathological analysis of liver biopsies was considered the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each noninvasive test using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, with a cut-off value of F ≥ 3 for advanced fibrosis. The diagnostic accuracies were assessed by measuring the area under the ROC curve (AUROC). The AUROCs for different noninvasive tests were compared using paired significance tests.

RESULTS

At histopathological examination, 40 patients (28.2%) had a fibrosis stage F0, 50 patients (35.2%) had F1, 22 patients (15.5%) had F2, 20 patients (14.1%) had F3, and 10 patients (7.0%) had F4. The sensitivity of APRI, BARD, FIB-4, NFSA, and FibroMeter scores for advanced fibrosis was 70.0, 73.3, 70.0, 66.7, and 66.7%, respectively, and the specificity was 74.5, 66.4, 71.8, 71.8, and 74.5%, respectively. No significant differences in terms of sensitivity and specificity were evident for the five noninvasive scores. Moreover, the AUROCs did not differ significantly for all scores.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that different noninvasive scores have similar accuracy for the diagnosis of advanced hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.

[Options for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis based on clinical data]

Liver cirrhosis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Liver biopsy is considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis of chronic liver diseases. Studies have focused on non-invasive markers for liver fibrosis because of the dangers and complications of liver biopsy. The authors review the non-invasive direct as well as indirect methods for liver fibrosis assessment and present the positive and negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of those. Clinical utilities of transient elastography (Fibrsocan) is also reviewed. Non-invasive methods are useful in the assessment of liver fibrosis, monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response. Their accuracy can be increased by the combined or sequential use of non-invasive markers.

The N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a link between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and cardiovascular events

Background

Despite the usefulness of N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in detecting enhanced collagen turnover in patients with congestive heart failure, the value added by PIIINP to the use of clinical variables and echocardiography in relation to directly measured left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (EDP) and the outcome of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been clearly defined.

Methods and Results

This study involved 168 adult patients with ACS, who underwent echocardiography, measurement of serum PIIINP levels, and cardiac catheterization. Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (PWTDI), which revealed mean peak systolic (s′), early (e′), and late diastolic (a′) velocities, was carried out and the eas index of LV function was evaluated: e′/(a′×s′). The patients were divided into three study groups based on the degree of LVEDP – normal (<16 mmHg), intermediate (16–30 mmHg), and high (>30 mmHg) LVEDP. All patients were followed-up to determine cardiac-related death and revascularization. Patients with high LVEDP had significantly more PIIINP than those with intermediate or normal LVEDP (all post hoc p<0.05). The presence of coronary artery disease, the left atrial volume index (LAVI), the ratio of transmitral early and late diastolic flow velocities, a′, and the eas index were significantly correlated with LVEDP. According to multiple stepwise analysis, PIIINP, LAVI and the eas index were the three independent predictors of the level of LVEDP (PIIINP, p <0.001; LAVI, p = 0.007; eas index, p = 0.021). During follow-up (median, 24 months), 32 participants suffered from cardiac events, PIIINP and LAVI were significant predictors of cardiac mortality and hospitalization (PIIINP, hazard ratio (HR) 2.589, p = 0.002; LAVI, HR 1.040, p = 0.027).

Conclusions

PIIINP is a highly effective means to evaluate LVEDP in patients with ACS. The PIIINP is also correlated with cardiac mortality and revascularization, providing an additional means of evaluating and managing patients with ACS.

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index as a prospective predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

APRI (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] to platelet ratio index) is widely used to assess fibrosis and cirrhosis risk, especially in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Few studies have evaluated APRI and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. Prospective evidence is needed to assess whether APRI predicts HCC risk in HBV patients.

METHOD

In a prospectively enrolled clinical cohort of 855 HBV patients with a 1-year exclusion window (followed for > 1 year and did not develop HCC within 1 year), the predictive value of APRI in HCC risk was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards model using univariate and multivariate analyses and longitudinal analysis.

RESULTS

Higher APRI prospectively conferred a significantly increased risk of HCC in univariate analysis (quartile analysis, P trend = 2.9 × 10(-7) ). This effect remained highly significant after adjusting for common host characteristics but not cirrhosis (P trend = 7.1 × 10(-5) ), and attenuated when cirrhosis is adjusted (P trend = 0.021). The effect remained prominent when the analysis was restricted to patients with a more stringent 2-year exclusion window (P trend = 0.008 in quartile analysis adjusting all characteristics including cirrhosis), indicating that the association was unlikely due to including undetected HCC patients in the cohort, thus minimizing the reverse-causation limitation in most retrospective studies. Longitudinal comparison demonstrated a persistently higher APRI value in HBV patients who developed HCC during follow-up than those remaining cancer free.

CONCLUSION

APRI might be a marker of HCC risk in HBV patients in cirrhosis-dependent and -independent manners. Further studies are warranted to validate this finding and test its clinical applicability in HCC prevention.

S100A4 promotes liver fibrosis via activation of hepatic stellate cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

S100A4 has been linked to the fibrosis of several organs due to its role as a fibroblast-specific marker. However, the role of S100A4 itself in the development of fibrosis has not been much investigated. Here, we determined whether S100A4 regulates liver fibrogenesis and examined its mechanism by focusing on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

METHODS

S100A4 deficient mice were used to determine the role of S100A4 in liver fibrogenesis. The effect of S100A4 on HSC activation was estimated by using primary mouse HSCs and the human HSC cell line LX-2. Serum levels of S100A4 in cirrhotic patients were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

S100A4 was found to be secreted by a subpopulation of macrophages and to promote the development of liver fibrosis. It accumulated in the liver during the progression of liver fibrosis and activated HSCs in mice. In vitro studies demonstrated that S100A4 induced the overexpression of alpha-smooth muscle actin through c-Myb in HSCs. Both, the selective depletion of S100A4-expressing cells and knockdown of S100A4 in the liver by RNA interference, resulted in a reduction of liver fibrosis following injury. Importantly, increased S100A4 levels in both the liver tissue and serum correlated positively with liver fibrosis in humans.

CONCLUSIONS

S100A4 promotes liver fibrosis by activating HSCs, which may represent a potential target for anti-fibrotic therapies.

Metabolic phenotyping for enhanced mechanistic stratification of chronic hepatitis C-induced liver fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

The invasive nature of biopsy alongside issues with categorical staging and sampling error has driven research into noninvasive biomarkers for the assessment of liver fibrosis in order to stratify and personalize treatment of patients with liver disease. Here, we sought to determine whether a metabonomic approach could be used to identify signatures reflective of the dynamic, pathological metabolic perturbations associated with fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODS

Plasma nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral profiles were generated for two independent cohorts of CHC patients and healthy controls (n=50 original and n=63 validation). Spectral data were analyzed and significant discriminant biomarkers associated with fibrosis (as graded by enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) and METAVIR scores) identified using orthogonal projection to latent structures (O-PLS).

RESULTS

Increased severity of fibrosis was associated with higher tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, citrate and, very-low-density lipoprotein (vLDL) and lower creatine, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), phosphatidylcholine, and N-Acetyl-α1-acid-glycoprotein. Although area under the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis revealed a high predictive performance for classification based on METAVIR-derived models, <40% of identified biomarkers were validated in the second cohort. In the ELF-derived models, however, over 80% of the biomarkers were validated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that modeling against a continuous ELF-derived score of fibrosis provides a more robust assessment of the metabolic changes associated with fibrosis than modeling against the categorical METAVIR score. Plasma metabolic phenotypes reflective of CHC-induced fibrosis primarily define alterations in amino-acid and lipid metabolism, and hence identify mechanistically relevant pathways for further investigation as therapeutic targets.

Usefulness of evaluating hepatic elasticity using artificial acoustic radiation force ultrasonography before hepatectomy

AIM

To evaluate hepatic fibrosis and tumor diagnosis preoperatively, we investigated the elasticity calculated by the new parameter of ultrasonography, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI).

METHODS

We examined ARFI of the non-tumorous right and left lateral liver and in the tumor by push pulse of probe in 95 patients with hepatic malignancies undergoing hepatectomy. Measurement of ARFI as hepatic stiffness was indicated as the Vs (m/s).

RESULTS

Measuring the Vs in the non-tumor region was achieved in the right liver in 99% and at the left lateral liver in 94%. The Vs in the right liver was significantly lower than in the left lateral liver, and the Vs of the liver tumor was significantly higher than in the non-tumorous liver. The Vs in the right and left lateral liver was correlated with the platelet count, aspartate aminotransferase, fibrotic indices and indocyanine green test. The Vs in the right liver was significantly correlated with the fibrotic marker or index. The Vs of liver cirrhosis and histological stage 4 in the right and left liver was significantly the highest compared to the others. The Vs in the right liver showed a high area under the receiver-operator curve value predicting histological fibrosis. The Vs in the right was significantly correlated with blood loss and postoperative complications, particularly uncontrolled ascites.

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive ARFI imaging elastography is useful in evaluating impaired liver function or in the differential diagnosis of liver malignancies, highly hepatic fibrosis and in predicting posthepatectomy morbidity.

The validity of serum markers for fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis B and C

Assessment of liver fibrosis is critical for successful individualized disease management in persons with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We expanded and validated serum marker indices to provide accurate, reproducible and easily applied methods of fibrosis assessment. Liver biopsy results from over 284 CHB and 2304 CHC patients in the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study ('CHeCS') were mapped to a F0-F4 equivalent scale. APRI and FIB-4 scores within a 6-month window of biopsy were mapped to the same scale. A novel algorithm was applied to derive and validate optimal cut-offs for differentiating fibrosis levels. For the prediction of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, the FIB-4 score outperformed the other serum marker indices in the CHC cohort and was similar to APRI in the CHB cohort. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) for FIB-4 in differentiating F3-F4 from F0-F2 was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92) for CHB and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.81-0.85) for CHC. The suggested cut-offs based on FIB-4 model produced high positive predictive values [CHB: 90.0% for F0-F2, 100.0% for cirrhosis (F4); CHC: 89.7% for F0-F2; 82.9% for cirrhosis (F4)]. In this large observational cohort, FIB-4 predicted the upper and lower end of liver fibrosis stage (cirrhosis and F0-F2, respectively) with a high degree of accuracy in both CHB and CHC patients.

Systems level analysis and identification of pathways and networks associated with liver fibrosis

Toxic liver injury causes necrosis and fibrosis, which may lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Despite recent progress in understanding the mechanism of liver fibrosis, our knowledge of the molecular-level details of this disease is still incomplete. The elucidation of networks and pathways associated with liver fibrosis can provide insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease, as well as identify potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Towards this end, we analyzed rat gene expression data from a range of chemical exposures that produced observable periportal liver fibrosis as documented in DrugMatrix, a publicly available toxicogenomics database. We identified genes relevant to liver fibrosis using standard differential expression and co-expression analyses, and then used these genes in pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses. We identified a PPI network module associated with liver fibrosis that includes known liver fibrosis-relevant genes, such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, galectin-3, connective tissue growth factor, and lipocalin-2. We also identified several new genes, such as perilipin-3, legumain, and myocilin, which were associated with liver fibrosis. We further analyzed the expression pattern of the genes in the PPI network module across a wide range of 640 chemical exposure conditions in DrugMatrix and identified early indications of liver fibrosis for carbon tetrachloride and lipopolysaccharide exposures. Although it is well known that carbon tetrachloride and lipopolysaccharide can cause liver fibrosis, our network analysis was able to link these compounds to potential fibrotic damage before histopathological changes associated with liver fibrosis appeared. These results demonstrated that our approach is capable of identifying early-stage indicators of liver fibrosis and underscore its potential to aid in predictive toxicity, biomarker identification, and to generally identify disease-relevant pathways.

A comparison of FibroMeter™ NAFLD Score, NAFLD fibrosis score, and transient elastography as noninvasive diagnostic tools for hepatic fibrosis in patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive markers that purport to distinguish patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with fibrosis from those without must be evaluated rigorously for their classification accuracy. Herein, we seek to compare the diagnostic performances of three different noninvasive methods (FibroMeter™ NAFLD score, NAFLD Fibrosis score (NFSA), and Transient Elastrography [TE]) for the detection of liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.

METHODS

A total of 88 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. The Kleiner system was used for grading fibrosis in liver biopsies. The FibroMeter™ NAFLD score was determined using a proprietary algorithm (regression score). The NFSA score was calculated based on age, hyperglycemia, body mass index, platelets, albumin and serum aminotransferase levels. TE was performed using the Fibroscan apparatus.

RESULTS

The sensitivities/specificities for the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score, NFSA, and TE for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (F2 + F3 + F4 fibrosis) were 38.6%/86.4%, 52.3%/88.6%, and 75.0%/93.2%, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of TE were significantly higher than those of both the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA. No significant differences were found between the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA for the detection of significant and severe fibrosis, although the diagnostic performance of the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score was higher than that of the NFSA score for cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, TE showed the best diagnostic performance for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. The diagnostic performances of the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA did not differ significantly for the detection of both significant and severe fibrosis.

A diagnostic model for cirrhosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an artificial neural network approach

BACKGROUND

Timely diagnosis of liver cirrhosis is vital for preventing further liver damage and giving the patient the chance of transplantation. Although biopsy of the liver is the gold standard for cirrhosis assessment, it has some risks and limitations and this has led to the development of new noninvasive methods to determine the stage and prognosis of the patients. We aimed to design an artificial neural network (ANN) model to diagnose cirrhosis patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using routine laboratory data.

METHODS

Data were collected from 392 patients with NAFLD by the Middle East Research Center in Tehran. Demographic variables, history of diabetes, INR, complete blood count, albumin, ALT, AST and other routine laboratory tests, examinations and medical history were gathered. Relevant variables were selected by means of feature extraction algorithm (Knime software) and were accredited by the experts. A neural network was developed using the MATLAB software.

RESULTS

The best obtained model was developed with two layers, eight neurons and TANSIG and PURLIN functions for layer one and output layer, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 86.6% and 92.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study revealed that the neural network modeling may be able to provide a simple, noninvasive and accurate method for diagnosing cirrhosis only based on routine laboratory data.

Noninvasive Biomarkers of Liver Fibrosis: Clinical Applications and Future Directions

Chronic liver disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current strategies for assessing prognosis and treatment rely on accurate assessment of disease stage. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for assessing fibrosis stage but has many limitations. Noninvasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis have been extensively designed, studied, and validated in a variety of liver diseases. With the advent of direct acting antivirals and the rise in obesity-related liver disease, there is a growing need to establish these noninvasive methods in the clinic. In addition, it has become increasingly clear over the last few years that noninvasive biomarkers can also be used to monitor response to antifibrotic therapies and predict liver outcomes, including hepatocellular carcinoma development. This review highlights the most well-established noninvasive biomarkers to-date, with a particular emphasis on serum and imaging-based methodologies.

Combined antiretroviral therapy attenuates hepatic extracellular matrix remodeling in HIV patients assessed by novel protein fingerprint markers

OBJECTIVES

Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) attenuates hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis C virus and HIV coinfected patients. However, the role of HIV or cART on hepatic fibrosis in HIV monoinfection is discussed controversially. During liver fibrosis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins into small soluble fragments, which reflect hepatic remodeling processes. This study used these novel biomarkers to investigate the effect of HIV and cART on hepatic fibrosis remodeling.

DESIGN

In 249 patients with HIV monoinfection and 55 healthy controls, the serum levels of MMP-degraded collagen type III (C3M), biglycan (BGM), elastin (ELM), as well as the formation marker 7S (P4NP 7S), and MMP-degraded collagen type IV (C4M) were determined using specific ELISAs. Sixty-eight patients underwent a follow-up visit 3 years later including assessment of ECM markers and fibrosis using transient elastography (Fibroscan).

RESULTS

C3M, BGM, C4M and P4NP 7S were significantly elevated in HIV patients compared to controls and correlated to HIV viral loads and inversely to cART duration. C4M, P4NP 7S and ELM were lower in patients under cART therapy and in patients without HIV viremia, indicating that lowering of the HIV load by cART attenuates remodeling of ECM. The levels of C3M, C4M, P4NP 7S and ELM correlated significantly with the progression of fibrosis in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Specific therapy of patients with HIV monoinfection also beneficially influences liver fibrosis. These novel markers of liver fibrosis remodeling may help to monitor the hepatic effects by HIV therapy.

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) as a Mesenchymal marker of Early Hepatic Stellate Cells Activation in Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and of Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) in hepatic stellate cells of CHC cases and their association with stage of fibrosis.

METHODS

The study was conducted at Ziauddin University, Clifton Campus during the year 2010-2012. Sixty Chronic Hepatitis C cases were immmunostained using anti α-SMA antibody and anti-GFAP antibody. Semi quantitative scoring in pericentral, periportal and perisinusoidal area of each case was done to assess immunoexpression of each marker. Results : Immunoexpression of GFAP showed significant association with α-SMA. GFAP expression was inversely correlated with progression of fibrosis. Conclusion : GFAP could represent a useful marker for early hepatic stellate cells activation. Follow up biopsies showing decline in GFAP levels may help identify the target group requiring aggressive therapy.

Alpha-fetoprotein level as a biomarker of liver fibrosis status: a cross-sectional study of 619 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and pathological stages of liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

The study included 619 patients who were diagnosed with CHB from March 2005 to December 2011. AFP levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence. Liver biopsy samples were classified into five levels of inflammation (G) and fibrosis (S) stages, according to the Chinese guidelines for prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis. Two multivariable ordinal regression models were performed to determine associations between AFP, GGT, and APRI (AST/PLT ratio) and stages of inflammation and fibrosis.

RESULTS

Significant positive and moderate correlations were shown between AFP levels and inflammation stages and between AFP levels and fibrosis stages (ρ = 0.436 and 0.404, p < 0.001). Median values of AFP at liver fibrosis stages S0-1, S2, S3, and S4 were 3.0, 3.4, 5.4, and 11.3 ng/ml, respectively, and median APRI (AST/PLT ratio) was 0.41. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that the areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.685, 0.727, and 0.755 (all p <0.001) for judging inflammation stages of G ≥ 2, G ≥ 3, G = 4 by AFP; and 0.691, 0.717, and 0.718 (all p <0.001) for judging fibrosis stages of S ≥ 2, S ≥ 3, and S = 4 by AFP. APRI levels showed significant positive and moderate correlations with inflammation stages (ρ = 0.445, p < 0.001). AST, GGT, and APRI levels showed significant positive but very weak to weak correlations with fibrosis stages (ρ = 0.137, 0.237, 0.281, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum AFP levels increased as pathological levels of inflammation and fibrosis increased in CHB patients. Our data showed the clinical significance of serum AFP levels in diagnosing liver inflammation and fibrosis. Assessment of liver pathology may be improved by creating a predictive mathematical model by which AFP levels with other biomarkers.

Cystic fibrosis related liver disease--another black box in hepatology

Due to improved medical care, life expectancy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has veritably improved over the last decades. Importantly, cystic fibrosis related liver disease (CFLD) has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in CF patients. However, CFLD might be largely underdiagnosed and diagnostic criteria need to be refined. The underlying pathomechanisms are largely unknown, and treatment strategies with proven efficacy are lacking. This review focuses on current invasive and non-invasive diagnostic standards, the current knowledge on the pathophysiology of CFLD, treatment strategies, and possible future developments.

Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and serum fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE

Liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard for the assessment of liver fibrosis, although it is invasive and can have complications. The present study compares several noninvasive methods of fibrosis assessment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), including acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography, aspartate aminotransferase:platelet ratio index (APRI), Forns, FIB-4, and King scores versus percutaneous LB.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 51 untreated CHC patients. Biological tests necessary for the calculation of the scores (according to the classic formulas) were performed within a week of LB. The time interval between LB and tissue stiffness, assessed according to the Metavir score, was <6 months. Cutoff values were determined using area under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUROC).

RESULTS

The best test for predicting significant fibrosis (F ≥2 Metavir) was ARFI elastography with an AUROC of 0.90, followed by FIB-4 (AUROC = 0.86), King (AUROC = 0.85), Forns (AUROC = 0.84), and APRI (AUROC = 0.82). For a cutoff of 1.31 m/s, ARFI had 89.3% sensitivity (Se) and 87% specificity (Sp). The best test for predicting cirrhosis was ARFI elastography with an AUROC of 0.98, followed by FIB-4 (AUROC = 0.94), King (AUROC = 0.90), APRI (AUROC = 0.82), and Forns (AUROC = 0.81). For a cutoff of 1.95 m/s, ARFI had 100% Se and 95.2% Sp.

CONCLUSION

ARFI elastography had very good accuracy for the assessment of liver fibrosis. It was more effective than APRI, Forns, King, and FIB-4 scores for the prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in CHC patients.

[The diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection]

The successful therapy of hepatitis C viral infection requires that the illness is diagnosed before the development of structural changes of the liver. Testing is stepwise consisting of screening, diagnosis, and anti-viral therapy follow-up. For these steps there are different biochemical, serological, histological and molecular biological methods available. For screening, alanine aminotransferase and anti-HCV tests are used. The diagnosis of infection is confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction of the viral nucleic acid. Before initiation of the therapy liver biopsy is recommended to determine the level of structural changes in the liver. Alternatively, transient elastography or blood biomarkers may be also used for this purpose. Differential diagnosis should exclude the co-existence of other viral infections and chronic hepatitis due to other origin, with special attention to the presence of autoantibodies. The outcome of the antiviral therapy and the length of treatment are mainly determined by the viral genotype. In Hungary, most patients are infected with genotype 1, subtype b. The polymorphism type that occurs in the single nucleotide located next to the interleukin 28B region in chromosome 19 and the viral polymorphism type Q80K for infection with HCV 1a serve as predictive therapeutic markers. The follow-up of therapy is based on the quantitative determination of viral nucleic acid according to national and international protocols and should use the same method and laboratory throughout the treatment of an individual patient.

Value of MR diffusion imaging in hepatic fibrosis and its correlations with serum indices

AIM: To compare apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of hepatic fibrosis patients with those of healthy controls and to identify their correlations with serum indices of liver fibrosis.

METHODS: Hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type III procollagen (PCIII), and collagen type IV (IV-C) were measured in 54 hepatic fibrosis patients and 23 normal controls, and ADC values were determined on DWI at different b values (b = 300, 500, 700 s/mm²). Correlations between serum indices and ADC values at different liver fibrosis stages were examined, and each index variation of liver fibrosis in different stages were compared, and correlation analysis of each index and the staging of liver fibrosis carried out, and the correlation of each index performed.

RESULTS: With progressive liver fibrosis, HA, PCIII, and IV-C levels increased (P < 0.01). As the b value increased, the ADC value decreased gradually with the hepatic fibrosis stages. In different groups with b values of 500 s/mm² and 700 s/mm², the ADC value decreased significantly as liver fibrosis progressed (P < 0.01). With b values of 500 s/mm² and 700 s/mm², there were negative correlations between ADC and LN, PCIII, HA, and IV-C. This pattern was observed only for HA and IV-C at a b value of 300 s/mm².

CONCLUSION: Serum indices of liver fibrosis and ADC values are useful for diagnosing liver fibrosis, with some correlations among them.

[Biomarkers for liver fibrosis: advances, advantages and disadvantages]

Liver cirrhosis in Mexico is one of the most important causes of death in persons between the ages of 25 and 50 years. One of the reasons for therapeutic failure is the lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms that cause liver disorder and make it irreversible. One of its prevalent anatomical characteristics is an excessive deposition of fibrous tissue that takes different forms depending on etiology and disease stage. Liver biopsy, traditionally regarded as the gold standard of fibrosis staging, has been brought into question over the past decade, resulting in the proposal for developing non-invasive technologies based on different, but complementary, approaches: a biological one that takes the serum levels of products arising from the fibrosis into account, and a more physical one that evaluates scarring of the liver by methods such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography; some of the methods were originally studied and validated in patients with hepatitis C. There is great interest in determining non-invasive markers for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, since at present there is no panel or parameter efficient and reliable enough for diagnostic use. In this paper, we describe the biomarkers that are currently being used for studying liver fibrosis in humans, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the implementation of new-generation technologies and the evaluation of their possible use in the diagnosis of fibrosis.

Proteomic analysis of altered extracellular matrix turnover in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Fibrotic disease is characterized by the pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Surprisingly, very little is known about the synthesis and degradation rates of the many proteins and proteoglycans that constitute healthy or pathological extracellular matrix. A comprehensive understanding of altered ECM protein synthesis and degradation during the onset and progression of fibrotic disease would be immensely valuable. We have developed a dynamic proteomics platform that quantifies the fractional synthesis rates of large numbers of proteins via stable isotope labeling and LC/MS-based mass isotopomer analysis. Here, we present the first broad analysis of ECM protein kinetics during the onset of experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Mice were labeled with heavy water for up to 21 days following the induction of lung fibrosis with bleomycin. Lung tissue was subjected to sequential protein extraction to fractionate cellular, guanidine-soluble ECM proteins and residual insoluble ECM proteins. Fractional synthesis rates were calculated for 34 ECM proteins or protein subunits, including collagens, proteoglycans, and microfibrillar proteins. Overall, fractional synthesis rates of guanidine-soluble ECM proteins were faster than those of insoluble ECM proteins, suggesting that the insoluble fraction reflected older, more mature matrix components. This was confirmed through the quantitation of pyridinoline cross-links in each protein fraction. In fibrotic lung tissue, there was a significant increase in the fractional synthesis of unique sets of matrix proteins during early (pre-1 week) and late (post-1 week) fibrotic response. Furthermore, we isolated fast turnover subpopulations of several ECM proteins (e.g. type I collagen) based on guanidine solubility, allowing for accelerated detection of increased synthesis of typically slow-turnover protein populations. This establishes the presence of multiple kinetic pools of pulmonary collagen in vivo with altered turnover rates during evolving fibrosis. These data demonstrate the utility of dynamic proteomics in analyzing changes in ECM protein turnover associated with the onset and progression of fibrotic disease.

Lymphocytes as liver damage mirror of HCV related adipogenesis deregulation

Hepatitis C virus infection leads to a wide spectrum of liver diseases ranging from mild chronic hepatitis to end-stage cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. An intriguing aspect of the HCV infection is its close connection with lipid metabolism playing an important role in the HCV life cycle and in its pathogenesis. HCV is known to be a hepatotropic virus; however, it can also infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The goal of the current investigation is to compare the adipogenesis profile of liver tissues to lymphocytes of HCV infected patients, in order to understand if PBMCs may reflect the alterations of intracellular pathways occurring during HCV-related liver steatosis. Using the Human Adipogenesis PCR Array, gene expression was analyzed in liver samples and PBMCs of chronic HCV+, HBV+ and Healthy Donors (HDs) patients. We observed a similar modulation of lipid metabolism in HCV+ and HBV+liver tissues and lymphoid, cells suggesting that PBMCs reflect the liver adipogenesis deregulation related to infection, even if the two viruses have a different impact in the regulation of the adipogenesis mechanisms. In particular, some genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation, as well as in cell transformation, were up-regulated, in a similar way, in both HCV models analyzed. Interestingly, these genes were positively correlated to virological and hepatic functional parameters of HCV+ patients. On the contrary, HBV+ patients displayed a completely different profile. PBMCs of HCV+ patients seem to be useful model to study how HCV-related lipid metabolism deregulation occurs in liver. The obtained data suggest some molecules as new possible biomarkers of HCV-related liver damage progression.

Non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

Assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered a relevant part of patient care and key for decision making. Although liver biopsy has been considered the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis, it is an invasive technique and subject to sampling errors and significant intra- and inter-observer variability. Over the last decade, several noninvasive markers were proposed for liver fibrosis diagnosis in chronic HCV infection, with variable performance. Besides the clear advantage of being noninvasive, a more objective interpretation of test results may overcome the mentioned intra- and inter-observer variability of liver biopsy. In addition, these tests can theoretically offer a more accurate view of fibrogenic events occurring in the entire liver with the advantage of providing frequent fibrosis evaluation without additional risk. However, in general, these tests show low accuracy in discriminating between intermediate stages of fibrosis and may be influenced by several hepatic and extra-hepatic conditions. These methods are either serum markers (usually combined in a mathematical model) or imaging modalities that can be used separately or combined in algorithms to improve accuracy. In this review we will discuss the different noninvasive methods that are currently available for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C, their advantages, limitations and application in clinical practice.

Efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in Asian-Americans with chronic hepatitis B in community settings

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) disproportionately affects the Asian-American population in the USA. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has demonstrated potent antiviral activity in clinical trials, but data in Asian-Americans from community studies are lacking.

METHODS

Adult Asian-American patients with CHB from private medical and community-based practices were prospectively enrolled and treated with open-label TDF 300 mg once daily in a single-arm study for 48 weeks. After Week 48, patients had the option to transition to commercially available CHB therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint was hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA <400 copies/mL at Week 48. Secondary endpoints were safety and tolerability, serologic and biochemical responses, liver fibrosis by FibroTest, and the development of drug-resistant mutations.

RESULTS

Of the 90 patients enrolled, 53 (58%) were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive at baseline. At Week 48, 74 patients (82% overall; 70% HBeAg-positive and 100% HBeAg-negative) had HBV DNA <400 copies/mL. Six (12%) HBeAg-positive patients achieved HBeAg loss/seroconversion. The percentage of patients with alanine aminotransferase in the normal range increased from 26% at baseline to 66% at Week 48. The percentage of patients with F0 (no or minimal) fibrosis by FibroTest increased from 48% to 51%, and those with F4 (severe) fibrosis decreased from 4% to 1%. No resistance to TDF developed. Treatment was well tolerated. Most adverse events were mild in severity and considered unrelated to study drug.

CONCLUSIONS

TDF is effective and well tolerated in Asian-American CHB patients in community clinic-based settings, consistent with larger registration trials. Improvement in liver fibrosis was seen in a proportion of patients. No resistance to TDF developed through 48 weeks of treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT00736190.

Determination of normal hepatic elasticity by using real-time shear-wave elastography

PURPOSE

To determine normal reference values of liver elasticity and measurement reliability by using real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) in patients with a range of ages and body mass index (BMI) measurements, with presence or absence of hepatic steatosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The institutional review board approved this study, and informed consent was waived because of the retrospective nature of the study. Two hundred thirty-eight patients who underwent SWE and ultrasonography-guided liver biopsies on the same day were identified retrospectively. The median kilopascal value of three consecutive measurements was used as a representative value for each subject. One hundred ninety-six patients who were potential donors for living-donor liver transplantation and had biopsy-proven normal (123 nonsteatotic and 73 steatotic) livers as the only histologic abnormality were included in the study. Reference ranges of normal hepatic elasticity were calculated by using lower and upper limits at the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles. With the upper value of the reference range as a cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis were calculated. Measurement reliability was evaluated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). To investigate the effects of potential confounding factors (age, hepatic steatosis, and BMI) on liver elasticity, the Pearson correlation test and the Student t test were performed.

RESULTS

The reference range of normal hepatic elasticity was 2.6-6.2 kPa. With 6.2 kPa as a cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis were 91% (20 of 22 subjects) and 95.9% (188 of 196 subjects), respectively. The overall ICC for the elasticity measurements was 0.924. The potential confounding factors that we considered had negligible effects on the elasticity values.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic elasticity values measured with SWE in histologically proven normal livers ranged from 2.6 to 6.2 kPa, with high measurement reliability. The effect of the potential confounding factors on liver elasticity was negligible.

Recommendations for the management of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs

In the developed world, the majority of new and existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections occur among people who inject drugs (PWID). The burden of HCV-related liver disease in this group is increasing, but treatment uptake among PWID remains low. Among PWID, there are a number of barriers to care that should be considered and systematically addressed, but these barriers should not exclude PWID from HCV treatment. Furthermore, it has been clearly demonstrated that HCV treatment is safe and effective across a broad range of multidisciplinary healthcare settings. Given the burden of HCV-related disease among PWID, strategies to enhance HCV assessment and treatment in this group are urgently needed. These recommendations demonstrate that treatment among PWID is feasible and provides a framework for HCV assessment, management, and treatment. Further research is needed to evaluate strategies to enhance assessment, adherence, and SVR among PWID, particularly as new treatments for HCV infection become available.

Von Willebrand Factor as a new marker for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Staging of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is recommended prior to anti-viral therapy. As vWF-Ag was shown as a predictor of portal hypertension, decompensation and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, we performed this study to investigate if vWF-Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.

AIM

To investigate if vWF-Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.

METHODS

We analysed 294 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent biopsy. We assessed stage of liver fibrosis according to Metavir, measured vWF-Ag and calculated different fibrosis scores (APRI, FCI, FORNS, FI, Fib-4) and compared them by AUCs. We also calculated a new score: vWF-Ag/thrombocytes (VITRO score) for prediction of fibrosis.

RESULTS

vWF-Ag levels were increasing with stage of fibrosis: F0: vWF-Ag was median 136.5%, FI 140.6%, FII 157.5%, FIII 171.0%, FIV 252.0%; P < 0.001. vWF-Ag and VITRO score produced AUCs of 0.7 and 0.72 for ≥F2, comparable to the AUCs of APRI, Fib-4, FORNS with 0.75, 0.65 and 0.64 (P > 0.05). For ≥F3 AUCs were 0.79 and 0.86 for vWF-Ag and VITRO score, comparable with AUCs of 0.79, 0.86 and 0.87 for APRI, Fib-4 and FORNS. Cirrhosis shows AUCs of 0.84 and 0.89 for vWF-Ag and VITRO score, APRI, Fib-4 and FORNS showed similar results with AUCs of 0.82, 0.88 and 0.87.

CONCLUSIONS

vWF-Ag and VITRO score offer an easy possibility to evaluate the stage of fibrosis to diagnose subclinical cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Both vWF-Ag and VITRO score show equal performance in comparison to other fibrosis scores assessed in our study.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis - a case for personalised treatment based on pathogenic targets

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an umbrella term, which encompasses simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The entire spectrum of NAFLD has been associated with metabolic syndrome. NASH is associated with increased mortality compared with that of the general population. Many therapeutic options for NASH have been studied. However, there is very little evidence supporting the efficacy of most regimens for the treatment of NASH.

AIM

To provide a review focusing on the current therapeutic options available for patients with NASH as well as to briefly introduce possible future interventions.

METHODS

A MEDLINE, Pubmed and Cochrane Review database search using a combination of keywords, which included non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis, NAFLD, NASH, treatment, therapeutics, vitamin E, orlistat and bariatric surgery. An overall summary of the articles was developed for each section of discussion in this review.

RESULTS

NASH associated with metabolic syndrome can progress advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Weight loss and lifestyle modification have been shown to improve NASH. Other medications used for weight loss and metabolic syndrome have been evaluated, such as orlistat, metformin and thiazolidinediones. Alternative regimens using ursodeoxycholic acid, statins and probiotics as well as bariatric surgery have been evaluated, but have not been recommended as first-line treatment for NASH. Vitamin E for NASH patients without diabetes seems to be promising. The lack of effective treatment for NASH suggests the heterogeneity of patients presenting with the NASH phenotype. The best treatment strategy for these patients may be to identify their pathogenic target and develop personalised treatment protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, there are few options available for the management of NASH. Future targeted treatment strategies based on the pathogenic pathways may be needed to develop effective treatment for patients with NASH.

Limited value of plasma cytokeratin-18 as a biomarker for NASH and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver biopsy is the only reliable way of diagnosing and staging NASH but its invasive nature limits its use. Plasma caspase-generated cytokeratin-18 fragments (CK-18) have been proposed as a non-invasive alternative. We studied its clinical value in a large multiethnic NAFLD population and examined its relationship to clinical/metabolic/histological parameters.

METHODS

424 middle-aged subjects in whom we measured adipose tissue, liver and muscle insulin resistance (IR), liver fat by MRS (n=275) and histology (n=318).

RESULTS

Median CK-18 were elevated in patients with vs. without NAFLD by MRS (209 [IQR: 137-329] vs. 122 [IQR: 98-155]U/L) or with vs. without NASH (232 [IQR: 151-387] vs. 170 [IQR: 135-234]U/L, both p<0.001). Plasma CK-18 raised significantly with any increase in steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, but there was a significant overlap across disease severity. The CK-18 AUROC to predict NAFLD, NASH or fibrosis were 0.77 (95% CI=0.71-0.84), 0.65 (95% CI=0.59-0.71) and 0.68 (95% CI=0.61-0.75), respectively. The overall sensitivity/specificity for NAFLD, NASH and fibrosis were 63% (57-70%)/83% (69-92%), 58% (51-65%)/68% (59-76%) and 54% (44-63%)/85% (75-92%), respectively. CK-18 correlated most strongly with ALT (r=0.57, p<0.0001) and adipose tissue IR (insulin-suppression of FFA: r=-0.43; p<0.001), less with steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis (r=0.28-0.34, all p<0.001), but not with ballooning, BMI, metabolic syndrome or T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma CK-18 has a high specificity for NAFLD and fibrosis, but its limited sensitivity makes it inadequate as a screening test for staging NASH. Whether combined as a diagnostic panel with other biomarkers or clinical/laboratory tests may prove useful requires further study.

Efficacy of HGF carried by ultrasound microbubble-cationic nano-liposomes complex for treating hepatic fibrosis in a bile duct ligation rat model, and its relationship with the diffusion-weighted MRI parameters

Hepatic fibrosis is a major consequence of liver aggression. Finding novel ways for counteracting this damaging process, and for evaluating fibrosis with a non-invasive imaging approach, represent important therapeutic and diagnostic challenges. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an anti-fibrosis cell growth factor that induces apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells, reduces excessive collagen deposition, and stimulates hepatocyte regeneration. Thus, using HGF in gene therapy against liver fibrosis is an attractive approach. The aims of the present study were: (i) to explore the efficacy of treating liver fibrosis using HGF expression vector carried by a novel ultrasound microbubble delivery system; (ii) to explore the diagnostic interest of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI-MRI) in evaluating liver fibrosis. We established a rat model of hepatic fibrosis. The rats were administered HGF linked to novel ultrasound micro-bubbles. Progression of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology, hydroxyproline content, and DWI-MRI to determine the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Our targeted gene therapy produced a significant anti-fibrosis effect, as shown by liver histology and significant reduction of hydroxyproline content. Moreover, using DWI-MRI, the b value (diffusion gradient factor) was equal to 300s/mm(2), and the ADC values significantly decreased as the severity of hepatic fibrosis increased. Using this methodology, F0-F2 could be distinguished from F3 and F4 (P<0.01). This is the first in vivo report of using an ultrasound microbubble-cationic nano-liposome complex for gene delivery. The data indicate that, this approach is efficient to counteract the fibrosis process. DWI-MRI appears a promising imaging technique for evaluating liver fibrosis.

Novel serological neo-epitope markers of extracellular matrix proteins for the detection of portal hypertension

BACKGROUND

The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is an invasive, but important diagnostic and prognostic marker in cirrhosis with portal hypertension (PHT). During cirrhosis, remodelling of fibrotic tissue by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a permanent process generating small fragments of degraded extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins known as neoepitopes, which are then released into the circulation.

AIM

To investigate their potential as plasma markers for detection of PHT.

METHODS

Ninety-four patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 20 liver-healthy controls were included. Clinical and laboratory data of the patients were collected. All patients received HVPG measurement with blood sampling. In these samples, the following degradation or formation markers were measured: C1M (type I-collagen), C3M and PRO-C3 (type III collagen), C4M and P4NP 7S (type IV collagen), C5M (type V collagen), C6M (type VI collagen), BGM (biglycan), ELM (elastin), CRPM (CRP).

RESULTS

All ECM markers except for CRPM correlated significantly with HVPG. Interestingly, C4M, C5M and ELM levels were significantly higher in patients with HVPG >10 mmHg. Multiple regression analysis identified PRO-C3, C6M and ELM as significant determinants, while the models A and B including PRO-C3, ELM, C6M and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) provided better description of PHT (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001). The models provided odds ratios of >100 for having clinical significant PHT.

CONCLUSIONS

These novel non-invasive extracellular matrix markers reflect the degree of liver dysfunction. The different degrees of portal hypertension correlated with these circulating neoepitopes. Using a single blood sample, these neoepitopes in combination with MELD detect the level of portal hypertension.

The new paradigm of hepatitis C therapy: integration of oral therapies into best practices

Emerging data indicate that all-oral antiviral treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) will become a reality in the near future. In replacing interferon-based therapies, all-oral regimens are expected to be more tolerable, more effective, shorter in duration and simpler to administer. Coinciding with new treatment options are novel methodologies for disease screening and staging, which create the possibility of more timely care and treatment. Assessments of histologic damage typically are performed using liver biopsy, yet noninvasive assessments of histologic damage have become the norm in some European countries and are becoming more widespread in the United States. Also in place are new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiatives to simplify testing, improve provider and patient awareness and expand recommendations for HCV screening beyond risk-based strategies. Issued in 2012, the CDC recommendations aim to increase HCV testing among those with the greatest HCV burden in the United States by recommending one-time testing for all persons born during 1945-1965. In 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force adopted similar recommendations for risk-based and birth-cohort-based testing. Taken together, the developments in screening, diagnosis and treatment will likely increase demand for therapy and stimulate a shift in delivery of care related to chronic HCV, with increased involvement of primary care and infectious disease specialists. Yet even in this new era of therapy, barriers to curing patients of HCV will exist. Overcoming such barriers will require novel, integrative strategies and investment of resources at local, regional and national levels.

Diet-induced mouse model of fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis reflecting clinical disease progression and methods of assessment

Shortcomings of previously reported preclinical models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) include inadequate methods used to induce disease and assess liver pathology. We have developed a dietary model of NASH displaying features observed clinically and methods for objectively assessing disease progression. Mice fed a diet containing 40% fat (of which ∼18% was trans fat), 22% fructose, and 2% cholesterol developed three stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis, steatohepatitis with fibrosis, and cirrhosis) as assessed by histological and biochemical methods. Using digital pathology to reconstruct the left lateral and right medial lobes of the liver, we made comparisons between and within lobes to determine the uniformity of collagen deposition, which in turn informed experimental sampling methods for histological, biochemical, and gene expression analyses. Gene expression analyses conducted with animals stratified by disease severity led to the identification of several genes for which expression highly correlated with the histological assessment of fibrosis. Importantly, we have established a biopsy method allowing assessment of disease progression. Mice subjected to liver biopsy recovered well from the procedure compared with sham-operated controls with no apparent effect on liver function. Tissue obtained by biopsy was sufficient for gene and protein expression analyses, providing the opportunity to establish an objective method of assessing liver pathology before subjecting animals to treatment. The improved assessment techniques and the observation that mice fed the high-fat diet exhibit many clinically relevant characteristics of NASH establish a preclinical model for identifying pharmacological interventions with greater likelihood of translating to the clinic.

The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score: normal values, influence factors and proposed cut-off values

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Progressive fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease. To replace liver biopsy for disease staging, multiple serum markers are under evaluation with multiparametric panels yielding the most promising results. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score is an ECM marker set consisting of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) showing good correlations with fibrosis stages in chronic liver disease.

METHODS

The ELF score was measured in 400 healthy controls and 79 chronic hepatitis C patients using an ADVIA Centaur automated system. The ELF score was calculated using the published algorithm combining TIMP-1, PIIINP and HA values. Patients' fibrosis stage was defined histologically. ROC analyses were performed to study marker validity. Reference values and influence factors for the ELF score were validated.

RESULTS

ELF score reference values ranged from 6.7 to 9.8 and were significantly higher for men vs. women (7.0-9.9 vs. 6.6-9.3, respectively). Afternoon values were slightly higher than morning values (6.7-9.9 vs. 6.6-9.5, respectively). Age was a notable influence factor. We identified three cut-off values: 7.7 for a high sensitivity exclusion of fibrosis, 9.8 for a high specificity identification of fibrosis (sensitivity 69%, specificity 98% for moderate fibrosis), and 11.3 to discriminate cirrhosis (sensitivity 83%, specificity 97%). ELF score validity was superior to the results of the single tests.

CONCLUSIONS

The ELF score can predict moderate fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, influence factors such as gender and age need to be taken into account.

Egy-score predicts severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in Egyptians with chronic liver diseases: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive methods for assessment of hepatic fibrosis are increasingly needed. Recent studies showed that combined elevation of tumor markers CA 19-9 and CA 125 is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis with high specificity.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed at developing a new panel of surrogate biomarkers for prediction of the stage of hepatic fibrosis by combining tumor markers with other known biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 92 patients with different types of chronic liver diseases (chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis), were prospectively enrolled in our cohort. They were subjected to: ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, total bilirubin, INR, total cholesterol, albumin, platelet count, cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy and histological staging of hepatic fibrosis using the METAVIR system.

RESULTS

Combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 with a summated value > 37 U/mL is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with a probability of 77.6%. Multivariate analysis showed that the most relevant collection of biomarkers for prediction of stage of hepatic fibrosis is: CA 19-9, age, alpha-2- macroglobulin, total bilirubin, platelet count & albumin. We developed a new score, named the "Egy-Score", using a regression equation composed of this panel of biomarkers. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis could be done using the Egy-Score. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3 - F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy.

Serum fibrinogen alpha C-chain 5.9 kDa fragment as a biomarker for early detection of hepatic fibrosis related to hepatitis C virus

PURPOSE

Clinical application of biomarker candidates discovered by proteomic analysis is challenging. The purpose of this study was to standardize preanalytical conditions for measurement of serum levels of fibrinogen alpha C-chain 5.9 kDa fragment (FIC 5.9) and to test the diagnostic value of this peptide for detection of early hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Serum FIC 5.9 levels were measured by a sandwich ELISA. Effects on the serum FIC 5.9 level of temperature, the time between venipuncture and serum separation, and the types of collection tubes used were examined. The diagnostic value of serum FIC 5.9 as an early indicator of hepatic fibrosis due to HCV was then assessed.

RESULTS

FIC 5.9 was produced in a time- and temperature-dependent manner after venipuncture. Abnormal FIC 5.9 values were found in 89.5% of FI stage patients. Receiver operating characteristic analyses confirmed the superiority of FIC 5.9 over other conventional markers for early detection of fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The serum FIC 5.9 level may be an early indicator of hepatic fibrosis in HCV-related chronic liver diseases. This study provides an example of a pipeline from biomarker discovery by proteome analysis to assay optimization and preliminary clinical validation.

Serum biomarkers in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: value for assessing drug effects?

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common chronic liver disease throughout the world. In the USA, approximately 3-5% of the population are affected, and the prevalence of this condition is increasing. NASH is associated with an increased risk of liver-related morbidity, such as cirrhosis and fibrosis, as well as cardiovascular disease, and in spite of several clinical studies investigating putative new drugs, no approved treatment is currently available. This is partly due to the nature of the disease. NASH is a complex, slowly progressing disease, and confirmatory clinical trials have long treatment durations and require invasive end points (a liver biopsy). Such invasive assessments are only accepted in confirmatory trials; clinical studies in the exploratory clinical development phase must rely on noninvasive biomarkers as the primary end point. Experimental and clinical research continues to achieve validation and qualification of biomarkers in NASH, which will hopefully assist the development of new treatments for NASH patients.

Liver disease as a cause of thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND

Liver disease is frequently missed as the cause for a patient's thrombocytopenia.

AIM

To evaluate the role of liver disease in causing thrombocytopenia within a tertiary hospital.

DESIGN

A hospital-based retrospective study.

METHODS

Analysis of medical records of outpatients and inpatients with a platelet count <100 × 10(9)/l seen at St Mary's Hospital, London in October 2011, was conducted. Cause for thrombocytopenia was determined in each case and patients with liver disease were analysed further looking at factors associated with their low platelet count.

RESULTS

In total, 223 patients were included in this study, 109 of them were outpatients and 114 were inpatients. The mean age was 57.1 years (range 22-106), 64% male and 36% female. Liver disease was the cause for thrombocytopenia in 58% of outpatients. Overall, 92 patients with liver disease were identified; cirrhosis and/or splenomegaly were present in 78%, a further 8% were on interferon therapy. Thrombocytopenia was not explained by the extent of liver disease in 8%, significantly more in hepatitis C than other causes of liver disease (P < 0.05). Factors correlating with low platelet count in patients with liver disease were spleen size (P < 0.05) and serum bilirubin (P < 0.001). There were none, or mild abnormalities only in liver function tests in 19 patients with liver disease-associated thrombocytopenia.

CONCLUSION

Liver disease should be considered in all patients with an unknown cause of thrombocytopenia. Advanced liver disease does not have to be present for thrombocytopenia to develop. All patients with unexplained thrombocytopenia should be evaluated to see if liver disease is present, even when liver function tests are normal.

Predictability of liver-related seromarkers for the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem. A few risk calculators have been developed using mainly HBV seromarkers as predictors. However, serum HBV DNA level, HBV genotype, and mutants are not routinely checked in regular health examinations. This study aimed to assess the predictability of HCC risk in chronic hepatitis B patients, using a combination of liver-related seromarkers combined with or without HBV seromarkers.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 1,822 anti-HCV-seronegative chronic HBV carriers was included in this study. Liver-related seromarkers including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, serum globulins, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B were examined. Hazard ratios of HCC with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Regression coefficients of seromarkers significantly associated with HCC risk in multivariate analyses were used to create integer risk scores. The predictability of various risk models were assessed by area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs).

Results

During a median follow-up of 5.9 years, 48 newly-developed HCC cases were ascertained. Elevated serum levels of ALT (≥28 U/L), AFP (≥5 ng/mL), and GGT (≥41 U/L), an increased AST/ALT ratio (AAR, ≥1), and lowered serum levels of albumin (≤4.1 g/dL) and alpha-1 globulin (≤0.2 g/dL) were significantly associated with an increased HCC risk (P<0.05) in multivariate analysis. The risk model incorporating age, gender, AAR, and serum levels of ALT, AFP, GGT, albumin, and alpha-1 globulin had an AUROC of 0.89 for predicting 6-year HCC incidence. The AUROC was 0.91 after the addition of HBV seromarkers into the model, and 0.83 for the model without liver-related seromarkers, with the exception of ALT.

Conclusion

Liver-related seromarkers may be combined into useful risk models for predicting HBV-related HCC risk.

Serum proteome profiling identifies novel and powerful markers of cystic fibrosis liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cystic Fibrosis associated liver disease (CFLD) develops in approximately 30% of CF patients. However, routine sensitive diagnostic tools for CFLD are lacking. Within this study, we aimed to identify new experimental biomarkers for the detection of CFLD.

METHODS

45 CF patients were included in the study and received transient elastography. Differential regulation of 220 different serum proteins was assessed in a subgroup of patients with and without CFLD. Most interesting candidate proteins were further quantified and validated by ELISA in the whole patient cohort. To assess a potential relation of biomarker expression to the degree of hepatic fibrosis, serum biomarkers were further determined in 18 HCV patients where liver histology was available.

RESULTS

43 serum proteins differed at least 2-fold in patients with CFLD compared to those without liver disease as identified in proteome profiling. In ELISA quantifications, TIMP-4 and Endoglin were significantly up-regulated in patients with CFLD as diagnosed by clinical guidelines or increased liver stiffness. Pentraxin-3 was significantly decreased in patients with CFLD. Serum TIMP-4 and Endoglin showed highest values in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis compared to those with fibrosis but without cirrhosis. At a cut-off value of 6.3 kPa, transient elastography compassed a very high diagnostic accuracy and specificity for the detection of CFLD. Among the biomarkers, TIMP-4 and Endoglin exhibited a high diagnostic accuracy for CFLD. Diagnostic sensitivities and negative predictive values were increased when elastography and TIMP-4 and Endoglin were combined for the detection of CFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum TIMP-4 and Endoglin are increased in CFLD and their expression correlates with hepatic staging. Determination of TIMP-4 and Endoglin together with transient elastography can increase the sensitivity for the non-invasive diagnosis of CFLD.

Protein fingerprinting of the extracellular matrix remodelling in a rat model of liver fibrosis--a serological evaluation

BACKGROUND/AIM

We investigated nine novel biomarkers of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling in a rat model of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Liver fibrosis was induced in 52 male Wistar rats by inhalation of carbon tetrachloride and the level of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining compared with controls. The novel serum biochemical markers assessed in the model were type I-(C1M), type III-(C3M), type IV-(C4M) and type VI-(C6M) collagen, citrullinated vimentin (VICM) and biglycan (BGM) all protein fragments generated by matrix metalloproteinases; and formation markers of type III-(P3NP), type VI (P4NP 7S) and type V (P5CP) collagen; hepatic mRNA type I collagen alpha-1 chain levels, serum potassium, sodium, osmolarity, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin and creatinine.

RESULTS

Stratification of the CCl(4) -treated rats according to total hepatic collagen showed that the degradation markers were significantly elevated in mild to severe fibrosis except for C6M which was also elevated in early fibrosis (P < 0.05). The highest Z-scores in early and moderate fibrosis were provided by P4NP 7S and alanine aminotransferase. All nine markers of ECM remodelling were highly related to the extent of liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4) . The novel collagen formation marker, P4NP 7S, was reliable for the detection of early fibrosis, while the combination of the two markers, C6M and P5CP provided the best correlation with hepatic fibrosis in all fibrosis levels.

CONCLUSION

As the markers can be used for translational science, these markers may provide valuable information for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in clinical settings.

Knowledge-based identification of soluble biomarkers: hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD as an example

The discovery of biomarkers is often performed using high-throughput proteomics-based platforms and is limited to the molecules recognized by a given set of purified and validated antigens or antibodies. Knowledge-based, or systems biology, approaches that involve the analysis of integrated data, predominantly molecular pathways and networks may infer quantitative changes in the levels of biomolecules not included by the given assay from the levels of the analytes profiled. In this study we attempted to use a knowledge-based approach to predict biomarkers reflecting the changes in underlying protein phosphorylation events using Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) as a model. Two soluble biomarkers, CCL-2 and FasL, were inferred in silico as relevant to NAFLD pathogenesis. Predictive performance of these biomarkers was studied using serum samples collected from patients with histologically proven NAFLD. Serum levels of both molecules, in combination with clinical and demographic data, were predictive of hepatic fibrosis in a cohort of NAFLD patients. Our study suggests that (1) NASH-specific disruption of the kinase-driven signaling cascades in visceral adipose tissue lead to detectable changes in the levels of soluble molecules released into the bloodstream, and (2) biomarkers discovered in silico could contribute to predictive models for non-malignant chronic diseases.

Role of liver biopsy in the era of direct-acting antivirals

An accurate assessment of the degree of fibrosis or presence of cirrhosis is critical both for the appropriate management of, and to provide prognosis for, patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. In the new era of direct acting antivirals, large numbers of patients may enter therapy, and although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, it is not practical in all settings. In recent years, a variety of noninvasive methods have been developed that may obviate the need for liver biopsy in most settings. Indirect laboratory formulas, tests, panels of biomarkers and imaging modalities may accurately stage the degree of fibrosis in hepatitis C monoinfection, hepatitis C/HIV coinfection, and post-transplant recurrent hepatitis C.

Magnetic resonance elastography in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a common feature of many chronic liver diseases, and can ultimately progress to cirrhosis. Conventional imaging is insensitive to liver fibrosis, necessitating a liver biopsy for diagnosis and monitoring of progression. However, liver biopsy risks complications, and is an imperfect gold standard in view of sampling error and intraobserver or interobserver variation. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive method for assessing the mechanical properties of tissues and is gaining credence as a method of assessment for hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this review is to describe how MRE is performed, to review the present literature on the subject, to compare MRE with other noninvasive techniques used to assess for liver fibrosis, and to highlight areas of future research.