Association between circulating inflammatory molecules and alcoholic liver disease in men

Effect of procyanidins on lipid metabolism and inflammation in rats exposed to alcohol and iron

Background

Lifestyle involving uncontrolled alcohol consumption coupled regularly with red meat and other iron sources has detrimental effects on the liver, which in the long term, results in Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD). Procyanidin has lately garnered increasing attention and has become the focus of research owing to its antioxidant properties. This study explores the anti-inflammatory effects of procyanidins, in preventing ALD, by analyzing the biological activities of the compound on liver injury caused by excessive alcohol and iron.

Method

Male SPF Wistar rats were placed in 4 groups; the control Group A (basic diet); the model Group B (excess alcohol 8–12 mL/kg/d and iron 1000 mg/kg diet); the low dose procyanidin Group C (model group diet plus 60 mg/kg/d of procyanidin); and the high dose procyanidin Group D (model group diet plus 120 mg/kg/d of procyanidin). Serum biochemical markers for liver damage were measured spectrophotometrically. The NFκB and IκB mRNA expression levels were determined using RT-PCR; the NFκB p65 and IκB protein expression levels were assessed via western blotting, while ELISA was used to detect serum inflammatory factors.

Results

The pathological score of the model Group B, low and high dose procyanidin Groups C and D were 6.58 ± 0.90,4.69 ± 0.70 and 2.00 ± 0.73, respectively (P < 0.05). The results showed that high alcohol and iron contents in the model group led to significant damage of liver structure, increased low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), steatosis, and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. High amounts of procyanidins led to the preservation of the liver structure, production of high-density lipoproteins, and reduction in serum inflammatory cytokines while also significantly decreasing the expression levels of NFκB p65.

Conclusion

The results prove that procyanidins have hepatoprotective potential and could be effective in reversing histopathology, possibly by alleviating inflammation and improving lipid metabolism.

Growing burden of alcoholic liver disease in China: A review

Explosive economic growth and increasing social openness in China over the last 30 years have significantly boosted alcohol consumption, and consequently, the incidence of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in China has increased. Because the epidemiologic and clinical features of ALD in the Chinese population may differ from those of the Caucasian population, this review describes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetic polymorphisms, diagnosis, and treatment of ALD in the Chinese population. This updated knowledge of ALD in China provides information needed for a global understanding of ALD and may help in the development of useful strategies for reducing the global ALD burden.

Biomarker and Genomic Risk Factors for Liver Function Test Abnormality in Hazardous Drinkers

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence and long-term excessive alcohol use may cause liver damage, but only some patients develop cirrhosis. Similarly, high alcohol intake without evident liver disease often but not always produces abnormal enzymatic liver function tests (LFTs), particularly gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). We postulate that the factors predisposing to cirrhosis in alcoholics and to liver enzyme abnormality in drinkers are similar, and that biochemical LFTs could therefore be useful as markers of risk of alcoholic liver disease in excessive drinkers.

METHODS

Data from participants in twin and twin-family studies on alcohol use and dependence were used to identify 1,003 people who had reported excessive alcohol intake (28 drinks or more per week). A total of 962 of these provided blood for biochemical tests at the same time. Body mass index (BMI) and biomarkers of metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and iron stores were used in logistic regression with abnormality in serum GGT, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as outcomes. We conducted genome-wide association analyses for GGT, ALT, and AST separately in the group reporting excessive alcohol intake (N = 951) and a low-intake group reporting 14 drinks or fewer per week (N = 8,716), and compared results.

RESULTS

Abnormal GGT and ALT among excessive drinkers were associated with higher BMI, triglycerides, insulin, uric acid, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and transferrin saturation; and with lower high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Abnormal AST was associated with triglycerides, ferritin, and transferrin saturation. ALT was significantly associated with variants at reported genetic loci for alcoholic liver disease (PNPLA3, rs738409, p = 0.0076; TM6SF2, rs10401969, p = 0.0076; HSD17B13, rs10433879, p = 0.0024).

CONCLUSIONS

Known risk factors for alcoholic cirrhosis including obesity and markers of metabolic syndrome, iron overload and inflammation are associated with liver enzyme abnormality in excessive drinkers.