The proMMP-2 activation rate in patients with chronic viral liver disease

Clinical Benefits of Biochemical Markers of Fibrosis in Egyptian Children With Chronic Liver Diseases

BACKGROUND

The need for repetition of liver biopsy, especially in assessing the degree of fibrosis and follow-up of treatment protocols, justifies an intensive search for non-invasive alternatives. We attempted to investigate the clinical usefulness of serum fibrogenesis markers in pediatric chronic liver diseases.

METHODS

We measured serum levels of TGF-β1, collagen IV, laminin, MMP-2 and EGF-R, in 50 children with chronic liver disease (HBV, HCV and Bilharziasis) and 30 healthy controls, and determined their relationship to frequently used liver function tests and liver biopsy findings in patients.

RESULTS

TGF-β1, collagen IV, laminin and MMP-2, but not EGF-R, were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.01). None of these markers correlated with the histological fibrosis stage, whereas laminin correlated with necroinflammatory activity (P < 0.01). TGF-β1, collagen IV, laminin and MMP-2 had the ability to discriminate patients with significant fibrosis, while only collagen IV and laminin were able to discriminate those with cirrhosis. Among these markers, collagen IV had the best predictive accuracy for significant fibrosis (AUROC 0.94; PPV 91.5%) and cirrhosis (AUROC 0.85; PPV 80%).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, these markers may be useful in reducing but not replacing the need for liver biopsy in the monitoring of disease progression and treatment effectiveness and might be an inseparable part of assessment of chronic hepatopathies.

Effects of different ingredients of zedoary on gene expression of HSC-T6 cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of four different ingredients of zedoary (Curcuma aromatica oil, Curcumol, β-elemence, and Curcumin) on the gene expressions of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and to explore the molecular mechanism of zedoary against hepatic fibrosis at gene network level.

METHODS: We detected the mRNA sequences of 50 liver fibrosis-related genes in GenBank and designed oligonucleotide probes. We synthesized oligonucleotides with PE8909 DNA synthesizing instrument, and carried out oligonucleotide microarray with OGR-04 dropping instrument and aldehyded glass chip. Cultured HSC-T6 cells were treated with different concentrations of Colchicine, Curcuma aromatica oil, Curcumol, β-elemence, and Curcumin. According to the experiment of cell toxicity, we took the appropriate concentrations of medicines that resulted in over 50% of cell survival as experiment concentrations. We collected the cells at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h, and extracted total RNA with TRIzol reagent, then labeled cDNAs with Cy3-dUTP and Cy5-dUTP. These labeled cDNAs were hybridized to an oligonucleotide microarray which was washed several times and scanned by scanner GenePix 4000B. Different gene expressions of HSC-T6 cells were analyzed by ImaGene 4.2 software.

RESULTS: After HSC-T6 cells were cultured in a medium containing 6.25 μg/mL Colchicine for 12 h, expression of TIMP-1 decreased 2.2-folds. After HSC-T6 cells were cultured in a medium containing 78.125 μg/mL of Curcuma aromatica oil for 24 h, the expression of TIMP-2 and IL-6 decreased 2.3- and 2.2-folds, respectively. Moreover, after HSC-T6 cells were cultured in a medium containing 1.5625 μg/mL of Curcumol for 12 h, the expression of TGFβ1 and P450a decreased 2.3- and 2.1-folds, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our results may show the possible molecular mechanism of Curcuma aromatica oil and Curcumol against hepatic fibrosis.