Isoenzymes of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase in chronic hepatitis

An Assessment of the Serum Activity of ADH and ALDH in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC; previously known as primary biliary cirrhosis) is a chronic inflammation-induced cholestatic process in the liver. Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) are observed in around 90% of patients, which suggests that PBC is an autoimmune disease. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), ADH isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are localized in the liver, and they are useful markers of liver dysfunction. In this study, the activity of total ADH, ADH isoenzymes and ALDH was evaluated in the blood serum of patients with PBC. The experimental group comprised 50 PBC patients, both male and female, aged 28-67. The control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects, both male and female, aged 25-65. The serum activity of class I ADH, class II ADH and ALDH was measured by spectrofluorophotometry, whereas total ADH and class III ADH activity was determined by photometry methods. The activity of class I ADH and total ADH was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.001). An increase in class I ADH and total ADH activity indicates that the isoenzyme class I ADH is released by compromised liver cells and can be useful diagnostic markers of PBC.

Activity of Total Alcohol Dehydrogenase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in the Serum of Patients with Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background and objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess the use of determinations of total alcohol dehydrogenase and the activity of its isoenzymes as well as aldehyde dehydrogenase in the serum of patients with alcohol liver disease. Materials and Methods: The testing was performed on the serum of 38 patients with alcoholic fatty liver (26 males and 12 females aged 31–75). The total activity of ADH was determined by the colorimetric method. The activity of ADH I and ADH II, as well as ALDH, was determined by the spectrofluorometric method using fluorogenic specific substrates. The activity of isoenzymes of other classes was determined by spectrophotometric methods using substrates. Results: A statistically significantly higher ADH I activity was noted in the serum of patients with alcoholic fatty liver (4.45 mIU/L) compared to the control group (2.04 mIU/L). A statistically significant increase in the activity was also noted for the class II alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme (29.21 mIU/L, control group: 15.56 mIU/L) and the total ADH (1.41 IU/L, control group: 0.63 IU/L). Conclusions: The obtained results imply the diagnostic usefulness of the determination of AHD total, ADH I, and ADH II activity in the serum of patients with alcoholic fatty liver.

Activity of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in sera of patients with hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION

The changes of enzyme activity in the hepatocytes in the course of different liver diseases are reflected by increase of the corresponding enzyme activity in the plasma. For example, the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) correlate with the severity of the condition during cirrhosis. In this study we measured the activity of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH in the sera of patients with hepatitis C.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Serum samples were taken from 60 patients suffering from viral hepatitis C and from 66 control subjects. Total ADH activity and class III and IV isoenzymes were measured by the photometric method and ALDH activity, ADH I and II by the fluorometric method.

RESULTS

The ADH activity was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis C than in healthy (p < 0.001). The total activity of ADH was 1284 mU/l in patients, and 745 mU/l (controls). The activity of isoenzymes classes ADH I and ADH II in the hepatitis C group increased respectively 55% (4.24 vs. 1.88 mU/l; p < 0.001) and 47% (26.63 vs. 14.11 mU/l; p < 0.001) in the comparison to the control. There was significant increase in the activity of ADH I isoenzyme (4.96 vs. 3.81 mU/l; p < 0.001) and ADH total (1833 vs. 1105 mU/l; p < 0.001) in patients with high viral load in comparison to patients with low viral load.

CONCLUSIONS

The activity of class I and II ADH isoenzymes in the sera of patients with hepatitis C is increased, and it seems to be caused by the release of these isoenzymes from damaged liver cells.

Alcohol dehydrogenase: A potential new marker for diagnosis of intestinal ischemia using rat as a model

AIM: Intestinal ischemia (Ii) is an abdominal emergency due to blockade of the superior mesenteric artery resulting in 60-100% mortality if diagnosed late. Changes in several biochemical parameters such as D (-)-lactate, Creatinine kinase isoenzymes and lactate dehydrogenase suggested for early diagnosis, lack specificity and sensitivity. Therefore a biochemical parameter with greater sensitivity needs to be identified.

METHODS: Wistar male rats were randomly assigned into two groups; control sham operated (n = 24) and ischemic test (n = 24) group. Superior mesenteric arterial occlusion was performed in the ischemic test group for 1 h. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was estimated in blood from portal vein, right ventricle of heart, dorsal aorta (DA) and inferior vena cava (IVC). The Serum glutamic acid pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) was also estimated in blood from portal vein and right ventricle of heart.

RESULTS: A significant increase (P<0.001) in the levels of ADH in both portal blood as well as heart blood of the test group (232.72±99.45 EU and 250.85±95.14 EU, respectively) as compared to the control group (46.39±21.69 EU and 65.38±30.55 EU, respectively) were observed. Similarly, increased levels of ADH were observed in blood samples withdrawn from DA and IVC in test animals (319.52±80.14 EU and 363.90±120.68 EU, respectively) as compared to the control group (67.68±63.22 EU and 72.50±58.45 EU, respectively). However, in test animals there was significant increase in SGPT in portal blood (P = 0.054) without much increase in heart blood.

CONCLUSION: Significant increase in the levels of ADH in portal and heart blood within 1 h of SMA occlusion without increase in SGPT in heart blood, suggests that the origin of ADH is from ischemic intestine and not from liver. Similarly, raised ADH levels were found in DA and IVC as well. IVC blood does represent peripheral blood sample. A raised level of ADH in test animals confirms it to be a potential marker in the early diagnosis of Ii.

Detection of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in liver and serum by electrophoresis in liver disease

AIM

To establish an agarose gel electrophoretic method for detecting alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in human serum or liver tissue.

METHODS

The samples of human liver tissue or serum were electrophoresed with 74 mmol/L diethylbarbital buffer (pH 8.6) of 10 g/L agarose gel. Electrophoresis can separate the Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes to three bands clearly at 20 mA for 20 min in serum.

RESULTS

The total ADH activity in serum of sixty-seven patients with liver diseases was ranged from 0.013 Kat/L to 0.021 Kat/L. ADHⅠ isoenzyme was ranged from 0.01 to 0.30 of the total activities . ADH Ⅲ isoenzyme was from 0.12 to 0.31 . ADH Ⅲ was from 0.39 to 0.80. Total ADH activity in liver tissues of ten healthy subjects was ranged from 0.136 Kat/L to 0.196 Kat/L. ADHⅠ isoenzyme was from 0.07 to 0.25 of the total activities. ADH Ⅲ isoenzyme was ranged from 0.19 to 0.27. ADH Ⅲ was from 0.56 to 0.73.

CONCLUSION

ADH activity is high in normal human liver. Three ADH isoenzymes can be separated with agarose gel electrophoresis . But serum ADH activity is low. High activities were obtained in serum from persons suffering from serious liver diseases.

The activity of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the sera of patients with liver tumours

We have measured the activity of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the sera of patients with liver tumours, using class-specific fluorogenic naphthaldehydes as substrates. The activity of the tested isoenzymes was unchanged in primary tumours and significantly increased (class I) in metastatic liver tumours. The total enzyme activity was also increased (3-fold) in this group of patients. The elevated activity of class I isoenzymes in secondary tumours seems to be caused by the enzyme released from primary cells originating in the other organs, but increased total enzyme activity measured with chromogenic substrates may be proof of the presence of other classes of isoenzymes. These results show that the elevated class I isoenzymes and total enzyme activity in the sera of patients with liver tumours may indicate the metastatic origin of these tumours.