The ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase: potential value in differentiating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from alcoholic liver disease

OBJECTIVE: The ratio of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is often greater than 2:1 in alcoholic hepatitis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this ratio may be used to distinguish nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from alcoholic liver disease. METHODS: Patients with NASH were matched with controls with alcoholic liver disease based on age, gender, and date of diagnosis. The diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease was based on exclusion of other causes and a significant history of alcohol consumption. The diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was based on exclusion of other causes of liver disease and a liver biopsy showing > 10% steatosis and inflammation. The two sided Student t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: From 1990 to 1996, 70 patients with NASH were matched with 70 subjects with alcoholic liver disease. Patients with NASH had a mean AST to ALT ratio of 0.9 (range 0.3-2.8, median 0.7) and subjects with alcoholic liver disease a mean ratio of 2.6 (range 1.1-11.2, median 2.0). The mean AST levels were 66 U/L and 152 U/L, and the mean ALT levels 91 U/L and 70 U/L, in the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver disease groups, respectively. Although the absolute aminotransferase levels were significantly different in the two groups (p < 0.05), the greatest difference was observed in the AST to ALT ratio (p < 0.000001). Subset analysis of patients with NASH revealed mean AST to ALT ratios of 0.7, 0.9, and 1.4 for subjects with no fibrosis, mild fibrosis, or cirrhosis, respectively. The differences among these ratios were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The AST to ALT ratio appears to be a useful index for distinguishing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from alcoholic liver disease. Although values < 1 suggest NASH, a ratio of > or = 2 is strongly suggestive of alcoholic liver disease.     

Markers of chronic alcohol ingestion in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: an aid to diagnosis

We report here the use of the biochemical marker desialylated transferrin to aid in the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Conventional biochemical tests used for the detection of chronic alcohol consumption fail to differentiate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients from alcoholic subjects. In addition, even in those alcoholic subjects with alcoholic liver disease in whom biopsy has been performed, it is impossible to differentiate these two disease states on the basis of morphological examination alone. In this study we have examined two new markers of excessive alcohol intake, desialylated transferrin and mitochondrial AST in subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and in patients consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. All nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients consumed minimal or no alcohol and were diagnosed by morphological criteria based on liver biopsy specimens. Alcoholic subjects were consuming in excess of 80 gm/day ethanol, often with clinical evidence of overt alcoholism. Control subjects included both healthy controls and patient controls with liver diseases unrelated to alcohol. The ratio of desialylated transferrin/total transferrin was elevated only in patients who consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, whereas the ratio of mitochondrial AST to total AST (mitochondrial AST/total AST) was not significantly different between alcoholic subjects and patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The sensitivity and specificity for the ratio desialylated transferrin/total transferrin was 81% and 98%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity for the mitochondrial AST/total AST ratio was 92%; the specificity was only 50%, indicating that there were a large number of false-positives. All the conventional markers were less sensitive and less specific than the ratio desialylated transferrin/total transferrin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Utility of a new model to diagnose an alcohol basis for steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Distinguishing an alcohol basis from a nonalcoholic basis for the clinical and histologic spectrum of steatohepatitic liver disease is difficult because of unreliability of alcohol consumption history. Unfortunately, various biomarkers have had limited utility in distinguishing alcoholic liver disease (ALD) from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thus, the aim of our study was to create and validate a model to diagnose ALD in patients with steatohepatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was performed at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, to create a model using multivariable logistic regression analysis. This model was validated in 3 independent data sets comprising patients of varying severity of steatohepatitis spanning over 10 years. RESULTS: Logistic regression identified mean corpuscular volume, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, body mass index, and gender as the most important variables that separated patients with ALD from NAFLD. These variables were used to generate the ALD/NAFLD Index (ANI), with ANI of greater than zero incrementally favoring ALD and ANI of less than zero incrementally favoring a diagnosis of NAFLD, thus making ALD unlikely. ANI had a c-statistic of 0.989 in the derivation sample, and 0.974, 0.989, 0.767 in the 3 validation samples. ANI performance characteristics were significantly better than several conventional and recently proposed biomarkers used to differentiate ALD from NAFLD, including the histopathologic marker protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b, AST/ALT ratio, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin. CONCLUSIONS: ANI, derived from easily available objective variables, accurately differentiates ALD from NAFLD in hospitalized, ambulatory, and pretransplantation patients and compares favorably with other traditional and proposed biomarkers.     

Ratio of serum aspartate to alanine aminotransferase in chronic hepatitis. Relationship to cirrhosis

The ratio of the serum aspartate to alanine amino-transferase levels (AST/ALT) is often used as a clue to the etiology of the underlying liver disease. This ratio is usually greater than 2.0 in alcoholic liver disease and less than 1.0 in patients with chronic hepatitis and chronic cholestatic syndromes. We analyzed the AST/ALT ratio in 177 patients with various forms of nonalcoholic chronic liver disease who underwent medical evaluation and percutaneous liver biopsy. In the majority of cases of chronic viral hepatitis, the AST/ALT ratio was less than 1.0. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between the AST/ALT ratio and the presence of cirrhosis. Among 100 patients with chronic type B hepatitis, the mean AST/ALT ratio was 0.59 in those without cirrhosis and 1.02 in those with cirrhosis. Furthermore, the AST/ALT ratio often rose to greater than 1.0 when cirrhosis first became manifest. Thus, the finding of an AST/ALT ratio of greater than 1.0 in a patient with nonalcoholic liver disease should suggest the presence of cirrhosis. In addition, the use of the AST/ALT ratio as a means of separating alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease must be tempered with the knowledge that this ratio may be less helpful in the presence of cirrhosis.     

Serum ubiquitin levels in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is increasingly recognized as the most common liver disease in patients with elevated liver enzymes. In the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the first step is the lipid accumulation in the liver causing steatosis, the second step involves the endotoxins, cytokines and environmental toxins causing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, in time leading to steatohepatitis. Ubiquitin is a molecular chaperone that plays a major role in the degradation of intracellular proteins. Ubiquitin proteasome system is also considered as a cellular defense mechanism that removes damaged proteins generated by oxidative stress. In order to search for the role of ubiquitin in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, serum levels of ubiquitin were studied in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis for the first time in the literature, to our knowledge. METHODOLOGY: Eighteen patients with biopsy proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis diagnosis (13 males and 5 females with a mean age of 41) and 16 healthy volunteers as a control group (11 males and 5 females, with a mean age of 38) were included in the study. Serum ubiquitin levels were studied by ELISA method. RESULTS: The mean serum ubiquitin level (14.13 +/- 1.46 micrograms/mL) in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was significantly elevated compared to that of the control group (7.66 +/- 0.40 micrograms/mL) (p < 0.001). No correlation was found among serum ubiquitin levels and hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum ubiquitin levels may show that the ubiquitin proteasome pathway actively participates in defending against oxidative stress in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Serum ubiquitin concentration may be a marker predicting the intracellular cytoprotective response against oxidative stress rather than the degree of liver damage in pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Ubiquitin proteasome system based therapies may have a place in the treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in the future.     

Association between leptin and transaminases: 1-year follow-up study in 180 overweight children

Leptin and insulin resistance are being discussed to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is frequently characterized by moderately elevated transaminases. However, longitudinal studies proving an association between leptin, insulin resistance, and transaminases are scarce. We examined weight status, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), leptin, glucose, and insulin in 180 overweight children at baseline and 1 year later. Relationships between these parameters at baseline and their changes in the course of 1 year were determined by multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, pubertal stage, and body mass index (BMI). Leptin but not homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index correlated significantly to transaminases in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The same findings were observed in 30 children with suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by ultrasound. The 130 children who participated in a 1-year lifestyle intervention reduced their overweight (standard deviation score [SDS]-BMI, −0.37 ± 0.11). In the course of 1 year, their changes of transaminases depended on change of weight status (SDS-BMI decrease >0.5: ALT 12 [10-15] → 9 [8-13] U/L, AST 11 [9-12] → 9 [8-12] U/L; SDS-BMI decrease >0 but ≤0.5: ALT 14 [11-18] → 16 [12-26] U/L, AST 10 [8-14] → 10 [8-24] U/L; no SDS-BMI decrease: ALT 13 [11-20] → 20[13-33] U/L, AST 11 [9-21] → 15 [9-24] U/L; data as median and interquartile range). The 50 children without intervention increased their SDS-BMI (+0.02 ± 0.18) and transaminases (ALT 14 [11-18] → 19 [15-25] U/L, AST 10 [8-15] → 16 [10-25] U/L). These findings suggest that leptin may be involved in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. However, to test this hypothesis, careful histologic assessments in correlation to leptin levels are needed.     

Relative Versus Absolute Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin as a Marker of Alcohol Consumption in Patients With Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been described as a sensitive and specific marker for alcohol consumption. This study investigated the usefulness of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of alcohol consumption in acute alcoholic hepatitis. METHODS: Absolute concentrations (U/I) and relative values (%) of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin determined in serum with commercial assays, as well as conventional markers for alcohol consumption, were compared with the alcohol consumption (as estimated by a questionnaire) in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis (n = 19), alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 37), and nonalcoholic liver diseases (n = 16). RESULTS: The concentration of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin was increased (p < 0.001) in nonabstaining patients (median intake 80 g alcohol/day) with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (45.7 +/- 30 U/l), but not in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis (20.0 +/- 7.8 U/l) despite higher alcohol consumption (median 130 g/d), nor in abstainers with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (19.4 +/- 6.0 U/l) or nonalcoholic liver disease (18.5 +/- 6.7 U/l). However, the relative values of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin were increased both in acute alcoholic hepatitis (7.9 +/- 2.1%) and nonabstainers with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (7.4 +/- 2.8%), but not in abstainers with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (4.6 +/- 3.5%) or nonalcoholic liver disease (3.8 +/- 0.9%) (p < 0.001). In acute alcoholic hepatitis, the sensitivity and specificity were only 32% and 87% for absolute concentrations, respectively, but 79% and 97% for relative values of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin. The concentrations of carbohydrate-deficient and total transferrin in serum were strongly correlated (r = 0.60; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The relative value (% of total), but not the absolute concentration, of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in serum is a useful marker of alcohol consumption in acute alcoholic hepatitis.     

血清精氨酸代琥珀酸裂解酶的测定在肝病诊断中的意义

目的探讨血清精氨酸代琥珀酸裂解酶（ASL）对肝病的诊断效能。方法测定291例肝病患者、247例非肝病患者和32名健康对照血清ASL和ALT、AST、GGT、LDH、ALP活性及TBil浓度；其中31例肝病患者进行了病理组织学检查。结果ROC曲线显示ASL对判断肝病的敏感度为100．0％，特异性为91．1％（分界值=8．0U／L）；ALT和AST的敏感度为97．60%和83．8％，特异性仅分别为24．7％和28．3％（分界值=40．0U／L）。ASL在不同肝病的变化情况是肝癌〉急性肝炎〉肝硬化〉慢性肝炎；ASL浓度[（86．9±26．5）u／L]与肝病理组织学炎症活动度计分（9．83±3．36）呈正相关（r=0．417，P=0．019）。结论ASL诊断肝病的敏感度、特异性优于AST和ALT，是肝病诊断的有用指标。     

Serum γ-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activity in Iranian healthy blood donor men

AIM： To determine serum γ-glutamyltransferase （GGT）, alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） activity, and to assess their correlation with demographic and clinical findings in healthy blood donors.
METHODS： This cross-sectional study was performed in 934 male blood donors, aged 18 to 68 years, who consecutively attended Tehran blood transfusion service in 2006. All participants were seronegative for HBV or HCV infections, non alcohol users, and all underwent a standard interview and anthropometric tests. Clinical and biochemical parameters including AST, ALT, and GGT activities were determined. Patients taking drugs known to cause hepatic fat deposition were excluded. For AST, ALT, and GGT variables, we used 33.33 and 66.66 percentiles, so that each of them was divided into three tertiles.
RESULTS： Mean AST, ALT, and GGT activities were 25.26 ± 12.58 U/L （normal range 5-35 U/L）, 33.13 ± 22.98 （normal range 5-35 U/L）, and 25.11±18.32 （normal range 6-37 U/L）, respectively. By univariate analyses, there were significant associations between increasing AST, ALT, or GGT tertiles and age, body weight, body mass index, and waist and hip circumferences （P 〈 0.05）. By multiple linear regression analyses, ALT was found to be positively correlated with dyslipidemia （B = 6.988, P = 0.038）, whereas ALT and AST were negatively correlated with age. AST, ALT, and GGT levels had positive correlation with family history of liver disease （B = 15.763, P 〈 0.001）, （B = 32.345, P 〈 0.001）, （B =24.415, P 〈 0.001）, respectively.
CONCLUSION： Although we did not determine the cutoffs of the upper normal limits for AST, ALT, and GGT levels, we would suggest screening asymptomatic patients with dyslipidemia and also subjects with a family history of liver disease.     

High aspartate to alanine aminotransferase ratio is an indicator of cirrhosis and poor outcome in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

OBJECTIVES: A liver biopsy is performed mainly to stage primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). In viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and in primary biliary cirrhosis, the ratio of aspartate to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) has been proven to be an indicator of liver cirrhosis. We wanted to test whether or not an AST/ALT ratio >/=1 is an indicator of cirrhosis also in patients with PSC. METHODS: A cohort of 154 patients diagnosed with PSC was studied retrospectively. Laboratory tests and the histological stage were scored. RESULTS: The mean AST/ALT ratio in the cirrhotic patients at the time of the first (n=117) as well as the last (n=72) histological examination was higher (1.3+/-0.5 and 1.6+/-0.7, respectively) than in the non-cirrhotic patients (0.7+/-0.4 and 1.0 +/-0.4, respectively) (P<0.0001 and P=0.0002, respectively). An AST/ALT ratio >/=1 was a strong predictor for liver-related death/orthotopic liver transplantation and liver-related death, being associated with a double and an almost fourfold higher risk, respectively. CONCLUSION: An AST/ALT ratio >/=1 is significantly associated with the presence of cirrhosis and poor outcome in PSC. It may therefore be a valuable non-invasive method for indicating cirrhosis in patients with PSC.     

丝裂原激活蛋白激酶信号通路在肝脏缺血预处理细胞保护效应中的作用

目的 研究p44/42丝裂原激活蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路在肝脏缺血预处理细胞保护效应中的作用。方法 建立体内和体外肝脏缺血预处理模型,应用蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂和MAPK抑制剂,通过检测p44/42MAPK磷酸化水平,细胞活力,血清天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)的活性变化,同时观察光镜细胞形态学损害,对相关数据进行统计学处理。 结果 体内和体外的缺血预处理两部分实验都观察到相似的结果。和缺血再灌注组比较,预处理组的p44/42 MAPK磷酸化水平显著增高,肝细胞结构损伤改变较小,血清ALT、AST水平显著降低,缺血再灌注组的ALT、AST水平分别为(762.8±130.5)U/L和(820.9±111.3)U/L,预处理组的ALT、AST水平分别为(281.0±35.6)U/L和(407.7±73.7)U/L;和缺血预处理组相比,PKC抑制剂组和丝裂原蛋白激酶(MEK)抑制剂组相应的观察指标呈相反的变化,p44/42 MAPK磷酸化激活显著减少,肝组织细胞结构出现较明显的损伤改变,血清ALT、AST水平显著升高,PKC抑制剂组和MEK抑制剂组的ALT、AST水平分别为(645.61±90.4)U/L、(678.6±136.5)U/L和(466.2±82.8)U/L、(732.9±91.1)U/L。 结论 肝脏缺血预处理细胞保护作用中,p44/42 MAPK通路起到至关重要的作用。     

Probucol in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: an open-labeled study

GOALS: To evaluate the effects of probucol, an agent with strong antioxidant properties, in reversing biochemical changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). BACKGROUND: There is currently no well-established medical treatment of NASH. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a major role in hepatic damage in these patients. STUDY: Cases of biopsy-proven NASH referring to a referral center in Tehran during a 12-month period were included in the study. Viral, autoimmune and other hepatic diseases were excluded. Alcohol ingestion was excluded by repeated questioning of the patient and at least two family members. Patients were given 500mg of probucol daily for 6 months. Serum levels of liver enzymes, the serum lipid profile, and weight was recorded monthly. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients completed the study. The mean age was 37.2 years, 13 patients were male and 4 female. The mean pretreatment value of ALT and AST was 93.5 and 80.4 U/L, and the mean posttreatment value was 41.8 and 35.9 U/L respectively ( = 0.001 and 0.006). CONCLUSION: Probucol, even in the low dose of 500 mg/d, appears to be significantly effective in decreasing the ALT and AST levels in patients with NASH.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病大鼠肝X受体α基因表达变化及意义

目的研究NAFLD大鼠肝X受体α(LXRα)基因表达变化及意义。方法建立高脂饮食诱导NAFLD大鼠模型后,采用RT-RCR和Western blot法动态观察NAFLD大鼠肝组织中LXRα表达变化。结果4周时模型组大鼠血清游离脂肪酸含量达(0.33±0.03)mmol/L,对照组为(0.24±0.03)mmol/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),随喂养时间延长逐渐升高,12周时模型组大鼠血清游离脂肪酸含量达(0.61±0.06)mmol/L,对照组为(0.25±0.01)mmol/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。血清ALT和AST含量在8周时模型组分别为75.8 U/L和138.9 U/L,对照组分别为54.8 U/L和81.4 U/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),12周时模型组分别为102.3 U/L和179.1 U/L,对照组分别为54.3 U/L和79.2 U/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。2周时模型组大鼠肝组织中LXRα基因表达相对含量为0.62,对照组为0.33,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),随着高脂饮食喂养时间的延长表达进一步增强,12周时模型组大鼠高达1.31,对照组为0.34,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。模型组大鼠肝组织中LXRα蛋白表达与基因表达趋势相同,与脂肪肝进展程度一致。结论LXRα基因表达变化与NAFLD的形成密切相关。     

缺糖转铁蛋白对酒精性肝病的诊断意义

目的 评价缺糖转铁蛋白（CDT）对酒精性肝病的诊断价值。方法 选择76例酒精性肝病,55例嗜酒者,32例非酒精性肝病和27例健康者,分别检测谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）等肝功能指标和CDT。结果 酒精性肝病组CDT阳性率为93.4%;CDT诊断酒精性肝病的灵敏度为93.4%,特异性为71.9%,诊断价值高于GGT、丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）。结论 CDT是诊断酒精性肝病较理想的指标。     

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with normal aminotransferase values

AIM： To investigate the aspects of liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） who had normal aminotransferase levels. METHODS： Thirty-four patients diagnosed with liver steatosis by ultrasonographic examination participated in the study. We compared all non- alcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH cases, according to aminotransferase level, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）/alanine aminotransferase （ALT） ratio and presence of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS： Sixteen of 25 patients with high aminotransferase levels were diagnosed with NASH and nine with simple fatty liver according to liver histology. Among the nine patients with normal aminotransferase levels, seven had NASH and two had simple fatty liver. The patients with normal and high liver enzyme levels had almost the same prevalence of NASH and metabolic syndrome. Liver histology did not reveal any difference according to aminotransferase levels and AST/ALT ratio. CONCLUSION： Aminotransferase levels and AST/AIT ratio do not seem to be reliable predictors for NASH. Despite numerous non-invasive biomarkers, all patients with fatty liver should undergo liver biopsy.     

Serum Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin as a Marker of Alcohol Consumption in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

We meesured serum levels of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) in 420 subjects: 100 healthy blood donors, 82 healthy employses, 70 abstaining patients with different chronic nonalcoholic liver disease, 16 abstaining patients with alcoholic fatty liver, 50 abstaining patients with alcohotic liver cirrhosls, 25 abusing patients with alcoholic fatty liver, 41 abusing patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and 36 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome with a daily ethanol consumption of 173 ± 120 g the last 4 weeks before blood was drawn. In controls the serum level of CDT was significantly higher in females compared with males (17.7 ± 5.1 and 13.7 ± 3.8 units/liter, respectively), and the upper normal limit was defined as 27 and 20 units/liter. Sixty-two of 102 (60.8%) abusing patients with alcoholic liver disease had increased levels of CDT compared with 1 of 66 abstaining (1.5%) patients with alcoholic liver disease, and 10 of 70 (14.3%) abstaining patients with nonalcoholic liver disease among them 3 with primary biliary cirrhosis and 2 with chronic autoimmune hepatitis. No correlation was found between serum CDT and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), AST, ALT, and mean red cell volume (MCV). The sensitivity and specificity for serum CDT was 61 and 92%, respectively, compared with 85 and 18% for GGT and 70 and 66% for MCV. No advantage was gained by using the CDT/transferrin ratio. Our study confirms that CDT is a specific marker for chronic alcohol abuse, except in few patients with other chronic liver diseases. Serum CDT seems to be a better indicator of abstention than GGT; AST and MCV in patients with alcoholic liver disease. However, in our hands CDT is not so sensitive for alcohol abuse in patients with liver disease as reported earlier in unselected alcoholics     

硫普罗宁对大鼠酒精性肝损伤的保护作用

目的探讨硫普罗宁在改善大鼠酒精性肝损伤中的作用。方法采用酒精灌胃法建立大鼠酒精性肝病模型，同时以硫普罗宁150mg．kg^-1进行干预，每日1次。10周后检测大鼠血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙二醛（MDA）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），并观察光镜和电镜下肝组织病理学改变。结果酒精模型组动物血清ALT、AST、MDA值分别为74．80±7．70U／L，185．00±28．41U／L和21．49±3．30nmol／ml，较正常对照组升高（P〈0．05），SOD值为197．96±23．05U／L，较正常对照组明显降低（P〈0．01）；同时模型组大鼠肝组织可见大量脂滴浸润和炎症改变，而硫普罗宁组动物血清ALT、AST、MDA值分别为47．70±7．61U／L，147．50±34．28U／L和8．33±1．33nmol／ml，较酒精模型组明显降低（P〈0．01），SOD值为273．08±6．75U／L，较酒精模型组明显升高（P〈0．01），硫普罗宁组肝组织仅见少数肝细胞肿胀及少量脂滴浸润。结论硫普罗宁可通过抗氧化作用减轻酒精性肝损伤。     

Retinol and retinyl esters in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Liver retinoid levels and the retinyl esters were examined in liver biopsy specimens from 70 patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases. There was a wide variation in the liver retinoid levels. The liver retinoid level was statistically significantly lower in 15 patients with alcoholic liver disease and a depressed Normotest (NT) value of less than 65% compared with patients with alcoholic liver disease and a normal NT value of greater than 65% (P less than 0.01). The mean serum retinol level in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis was 0.68 +/- 0.38 mumol/l compared with 1.99 +/- 1.14 mumol/l in patients with alcoholic fatty liver (P less than 0.03). The relative amount of retinyl oleate was increased in the alcoholic fatty liver compared with the nonalcoholic fatty liver (P less than 0.001).     

Higher levels of serum aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide, and laminin in alcoholic than in nonalcoholic cirrhosis of equal severity.

In vitro models have shown that metabolites of ethanol (acetaldehyde and lactate) stimulate collagen synthesis, thereby, suggesting that they may be important as fibrogenic mediators. The relevance of these findings for fibrogenesis in the human liver in vivo, however, has not as yet been demonstrated. Serum markers for collagen (PIIINP, using radioimmunoassays employing polyclonal antibodies and Fab-fragments (PIIINP-Fab), respectively) and basement membrane (laminin) metabolism were therefore investigated in 25 alcoholic cirrhotics (Pugh-Score: 6.7 +/- 1.9 S.D.) and in 19 comparable nonalcoholic cirrhotics (Pugh-Score: 6.3 +/- 1.5, n.s.) with only slight evidence for inflammation: GOT 28 +/- 22 vs. 24 +/- 21 U/l; GPT 24 +/- 23 vs. 31 +/- 28 U/l; gamma-globulins 24 +/- 8 vs. 22 +/- 5%, respectively (all n.s.). Severity of the disease was assessed by quantitative liver function tests. Levels of PIIINP, PIIINP-Fab and laminin measured by RIA were 21 +/- 19 micrograms/l, 90 +/- 42 micrograms/l and 2.5 +/- 0.8 U/ml in alcoholic cirrhosis and 10 +/- 6 micrograms/l, 61 +/- 10 micrograms/l and 1.9 +/- 0.4 U/ml in nonalcoholic cirrhosis, respectively (all p less than 0.01). Differences on PIIINP and PIIINP-Fab remained significant even after accurate matching for galactose elimination capacity, aminopyrine breath test and hepatic sorbitol clearance. Laminin levels were higher in alcoholic cirrhosis only after matching for the hepatic sorbitol clearance (p less than 0.01). The higher levels of serum markers for collagen and basement membrane metabolism in alcoholic vs. nonalcoholic patients with cirrhosis at equal severity of the disease and with only minimal signs of inflammation may be the clinical reflection of a specific fibrogenic effect of ethanol metabolites.     

Endocannabinoid receptor CB2 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fatty infiltration and fibrosis are major issues in chronic liver disease. Recent reports suggest a role for the endocannabinoid system in these processes. AIM: To characterize localization and expression of CB2 in normal liver and nonalcoholic fatty liver. METHODS: We studied 64 liver biopsies: eight were considered normal; 56 had a diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); 32 with nonalcoholic steatosis and 24 nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). CB2 immunolocalization was studied in 38 samples in paraffin blocks using immunohistochemistry, and a computerized semiquantitative analysis was carried out. CB2 mRNA expression was assessed through RT-PCR in 26 frozen liver samples and the ratio CB2/beta-actin was used to evaluate differences between groups. Statistical analysis was performed with central tendency measures and the Mann-Whitney U-test. We considered as significant differences those with a P-value <0.05. RESULTS: Neither parenchymal nor nonparenchymal cells in normal liver tissue react towards anti-CB2 antibodies. All the samples from patients with steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis showed hepatocellular immunoreactivity. Cholangiocytes were positive only in the NAFLD group. Normal liver tissue showed a normalized CB2/beta-actin ratio of 0.001+/-0.01, steatosis 6.52+/-17.3 (P=0.05 vs normal) and NASH 6.49+/-12.2 (P=0.06 vs normal and P=0.6 vs steatosis). CONCLUSION: CB2 receptors are expressed by hepatocytes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease but not in normal liver.