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Ratziu V, Hompesch M, Petitjean M, Serdjebi C, Iyer JS, Parwani AV, Tai D, Bugianesi E, Cusi K, Friedman SL, Lawitz E, Romero-Gómez M, Schuppan D, Loomba R, Paradis V, Behling C, Sanyal AJ. Artificial intelligence-assisted digital pathology for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: current status and future directions. J Hepatol 2024; 80:335-351. [PMID: 37879461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing, causing a significant medical burden, but no approved therapeutics are currently available. NASH drug development requires histological analysis of liver biopsies by expert pathologists for trial enrolment and efficacy assessment, which can be hindered by multiple issues including sample heterogeneity, inter-reader and intra-reader variability, and ordinal scoring systems. Consequently, there is a high unmet need for accurate, reproducible, quantitative, and automated methods to assist pathologists with histological analysis to improve the precision around treatment and efficacy assessment. Digital pathology (DP) workflows in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) have been established in other areas of medicine and are being actively investigated in NASH to assist pathologists in the evaluation and scoring of NASH histology. DP/AI models can be used to automatically detect, localise, quantify, and score histological parameters and have the potential to reduce the impact of scoring variability in NASH clinical trials. This narrative review provides an overview of DP/AI tools in development for NASH, highlights key regulatory considerations, and discusses how these advances may impact the future of NASH clinical management and drug development. This should be a high priority in the NASH field, particularly to improve the development of safe and effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, ICAN Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France.
| | | | | | | | | | - Anil V Parwani
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth Cusi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric Lawitz
- Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Manuel Romero-Gómez
- Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, CiberEHD, Insituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (HUVR/CSIC/US), Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Université Paris Cité, Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Beaujon, Paris, France
| | | | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Sanyal AJ, Jha P, Kleiner DE. Digital pathology for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis assessment. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:57-69. [PMID: 37789057 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00843-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Histological assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has anchored knowledge development about the phenotypes of the condition, their natural history and their clinical course. This fact has led to the use of histological assessment as a reference standard for the evaluation of efficacy of drug interventions for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - the more histologically active form of NAFLD. However, certain limitations of conventional histological assessment systems pose challenges in drug development. These limitations have spurred intense scientific and commercial development of machine learning and digital approaches towards the assessment of liver histology in patients with NAFLD. This research field remains an area in rapid evolution. In this Perspective article, we summarize the current conventional assessment of NASH and its limitations, the use of specific digital approaches for histological assessment, and their application to the study of NASH and its response to therapy. Although this is not a comprehensive review, the leading tools currently used to assess therapeutic efficacy in drug development are specifically discussed. The potential translation of these approaches to support routine clinical assessment of NAFLD and an agenda for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Sanyal
- Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Prakash Jha
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - David E Kleiner
- Post-Mortem Section Laboratory of Pathology Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Naoumov NV, Brees D, Loeffler J, Chng E, Ren Y, Lopez P, Tai D, Lamle S, Sanyal AJ. Digital pathology with artificial intelligence analyses provides greater insights into treatment-induced fibrosis regression in NASH. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1399-1409. [PMID: 35779659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver fibrosis is a key prognostic determinant for clinical outcomes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Current scoring systems have limitations, especially in assessing fibrosis regression. Second harmonic generation/two-photon excitation fluorescence (SHG/TPEF) microscopy with artificial intelligence analyses provides standardized evaluation of NASH features, especially liver fibrosis and collagen fiber quantitation on a continuous scale. This approach was applied to gain in-depth understanding of fibrosis dynamics after treatment with tropifexor (TXR), a non-bile acid farnesoid X receptor agonist in patients participating in the FLIGHT-FXR study (NCT02855164). METHOD Unstained sections from 198 liver biopsies (paired: baseline and end-of-treatment) from 99 patients with NASH (fibrosis stage F2 or F3) who received placebo (n = 34), TXR 140 μg (n = 37), or TXR 200 μg (n = 28) for 48 weeks were examined. Liver fibrosis (qFibrosis®), hepatic fat (qSteatosis®), and ballooned hepatocytes (qBallooning®) were quantitated using SHG/TPEF microscopy. Changes in septa morphology, collagen fiber parameters, and zonal distribution within liver lobules were also quantitatively assessed. RESULTS Digital analyses revealed treatment-associated reductions in overall liver fibrosis (qFibrosis®), unlike conventional microscopy, as well as marked regression in perisinusoidal fibrosis in patients who had either F2 or F3 fibrosis at baseline. Concomitant zonal quantitation of fibrosis and steatosis revealed that patients with greater qSteatosis reduction also have the greatest reduction in perisinusoidal fibrosis. Regressive changes in septa morphology and reduction in septa parameters were observed almost exclusively in F3 patients, who were adjudged as 'unchanged' with conventional scoring. CONCLUSION Fibrosis regression following hepatic fat reduction occurs initially in the perisinusoidal regions, around areas of steatosis reduction. Digital pathology provides new insights into treatment-induced fibrosis regression in NASH, which are not captured by current staging systems. LAY SUMMARY The degree of liver fibrosis (tissue scarring) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the main predictor of negative clinical outcomes. Accurate assessment of the quantity and architecture of liver fibrosis is fundamental for patient enrolment in NASH clinical trials and for determining treatment efficacy. Using digital microscopy with artificial intelligence analyses, the present study demonstrates that this novel approach has greater sensitivity in demonstrating treatment-induced reversal of fibrosis in the liver than current systems. Furthermore, additional details are obtained regarding the pathogenesis of NASH disease and the effects of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Arun J Sanyal
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, United States
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4
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Venkatesh SK, Torbenson MS. Liver fibrosis quantification. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2022; 47:1032-1052. [PMID: 35022806 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-021-03396-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis (LF) is the wound healing response to chronic liver injury. LF is the endpoint of chronic liver disease (CLD) regardless of etiology and the single most important determinant of long-term liver-related clinical outcomes. Quantification of LF is important for staging, to evaluate response to treatment and to predict outcomes. LF is traditionally staged by liver biopsy. However, liver biopsy is invasive and suffers from sampling errors when biopsy size is inadequate; therefore, non-invasive tests (NITs) have found important roles in clinical care. NITs include simple laboratory-based serum tests, panels of serum tests, and imaging biomarkers. NITs are validated against the liver biopsy and will be used in the future for evaluation of nearly all CLDs with invasive liver biopsy reserved for some cases. Both serum tests and some imaging biomarkers such as elastography are currently used clinically as surrogate markers for LF. Several other imaging biomarkers are still considered research and awaiting clinical application in the future. As the evaluation of imaging biomarkers will likely become the norm in the future, understanding pathogenesis of LF is important. Knowledge of properties measured by imaging biomarkers and its correlation with LF is important to understand the application of NITs by abdominal radiologists. In this review, we present a brief overview of pathogenesis of LF, spatiotemporal evolution of LF in different CLD, and severity assessment with liver biopsy. This will be followed by a brief discussion on properties measured by imaging biomarkers and their relationship to the LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhakar K Venkatesh
- Abdominal Imaging Division, Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200, First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Michael S Torbenson
- Anatomic Pathology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Asgharpour A, Sanyal AJ. Generation of a Diet-Induced Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2455:19-30. [PMID: 35212982 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2128-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The obesity epidemic is driving the increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) globally. The more aggressive subtype of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), can lead to progressive disease and ultimately lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. There are many unmet needs in the field of NAFLD including understanding of molecular mechanisms driving disease, natural history, risk for liver cancer, and most importantly FDA approved therapeutics. Animal models serve as a tool to aid in answering some of these questions. Here, we describe the diet-induced animal model of NAFLD (DIAMOND), a mouse model with many characteristics that mimic human NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amon Asgharpour
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Astbury S, Grove JI, Dorward DA, Guha IN, Fallowfield JA, Kendall TJ. Reliable computational quantification of liver fibrosis is compromised by inherent staining variation. J Pathol Clin Res 2021; 7:471-481. [PMID: 34076968 PMCID: PMC8363922 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biopsy remains the gold-standard measure for staging liver disease, both to inform prognosis and to assess the response to a given treatment. Semiquantitative scores such as the Ishak fibrosis score are used for evaluation. These scores are utilised in clinical trials, with the US Food and Drug Administration mandating particular scores as inclusion criteria for participants and using the change in score as evidence of treatment efficacy. There is an urgent need for improved, quantitative assessment of liver biopsies to detect small incremental changes in liver architecture over the course of a clinical trial. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have been proposed as a way to increase the amount of information extracted from a biopsy and to potentially remove bias introduced by manual scoring. We have trained and evaluated an AI tool for measuring the amount of scarring in sections of picrosirius red-stained liver. The AI methodology was compared with both manual scoring and widely available colour space thresholding. Four sequential sections from each case were stained on two separate occasions by two independent clinical laboratories using routine protocols to study the effect of inter- and intra-laboratory staining variation on these tools. Finally, we compared these methods to second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging, a stain-free quantitative measure of collagen. Although AI methods provided a modest improvement over simpler computer-assisted measures, staining variation both within and between laboratories had a dramatic effect on quantitation, with manual assignment of scar proportion being the most consistent. Manual assessment also most strongly correlated with collagen measured by SHG. In conclusion, results suggest that computational measures of liver scarring from stained sections are compromised by inter- and intra-laboratory staining. Stain-free quantitative measurement using SHG avoids staining-related variation and may prove more accurate in detecting small changes in scarring that may occur in therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Astbury
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of NottinghamNottinghamUK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of MedicineUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Jane I Grove
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of NottinghamNottinghamUK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of MedicineUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - David A Dorward
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Edinburgh PathologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Indra N Guha
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of NottinghamNottinghamUK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of MedicineUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Jonathan A Fallowfield
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Timothy J Kendall
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Edinburgh PathologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Elastic Fibers Density: a New Parameter of Improvement of NAFLD in Bariatric Surgery Patients. Obes Surg 2021; 30:3839-3846. [PMID: 32451920 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-020-04722-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Obesity is a major risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affecting 25% of the worldwide population. Weight loss through bariatric surgery can improve much of the liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. However, it is not known whether there is reversal of the elastic fiber deposition process, triggered by hepatic damage and related to worse prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Individuals submitted to bariatric surgery at our institution, from March 2016 to June 2017, with intraoperative liver biopsy confirming NAFLD were approached. Those who consented were submitted to a second liver biopsy 1 year later and were included. Specimens were sliced and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius red for histological assessment according to Brunt's criteria and with orcein for digital analysis morphometrics using ImageJ®. Quantification of elastic fibers was accomplished by corrected integrated density. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were included. Body mass index, metabolic markers, NAFLD activity score, and fibrosis improved 1 year after the procedure. The elastic fiber density showed a significant decrease: 239.3 × 103 absorbance micrometer2 (141.08-645.32) to 74.62 × 103 absorbance micrometer2 (57.42-145.17), p = 0.007. CONCLUSION Liver elastic fiber density decreases with the reversal of NAFLD through weight loss.
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Appraising diagnostic performance of ELF test by pathological staging and digital quantification of liver fibrosis. Ann Hepatol 2020; 18:833-840. [PMID: 31558418 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES A crucial issue when appraising the performance of non-invasive markers is the limitations of the reference standard they are compared to. Digital image analysis (DIA) was suggested as a reproducible approach expressing fibrosis numerically as a proportionate area (PA) (%). We aimed to evaluate ELF test with direct reference to PA (%), thereby explore the improvement in accuracy to discriminate significant fibrosis which may actually have been underestimated by categorical pathological staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS PA (%) data were obtained by DIA of trichrome-stained liver biopsies of 52 chronic hepatitis patients. Paired serum samples of patients and additional 36 controls were performed to measure ELF test. Diagnostic performance characteristics of ELF test was derived in predicting significant fibrosis in the patient cohort, and also, in distinguishing healthy controls from patients with significant fibrosis. RESULTS We found an AUROC value of 0.73 for ELF to predict significant fibrosis as assessed by DIA and a lower AUROC value of 0.66 when assessed by conventional pathology. Importantly, ELF test provided considerably high diagnostic accuracy to discriminate healthy controls from patients with significant fibrosis defined by Ishak F≥2 and TPA≥5% (AUROCs 0.93 and 0.94, respectively) with optimal ELF cut-off point of 8.4 for both. CONCLUSIONS Digital quantification could represent a better reference standard than conventional pathology allowing a better discriminatory capability for ELF test. ELF test provided high diagnostic accuracy to discriminate healthy controls from patients with significant fibrosis suggesting a role as a screening strategy in the community setting.
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Kao YH, Lin YC, Lee PH, Lin CW, Chen PH, Tai TS, Chang YC, Chou MH, Chang CY, Sun CK. Infusion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Regenerative Niche in Thioacetamide-Injured Mouse Liver. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 17:671-682. [PMID: 32880852 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00274-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated whether xenotransplantation of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) reduces thioacetamide (TAA)-induced mouse liver fibrosis and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS Recipient NOD/SCID mice were injected intraperitoneally with TAA twice weekly for 6 weeks before initial administration of WJ-MSCs. Expression of regenerative and pro-fibrogenic markers in mouse fibrotic livers were monitored post cytotherapy. A hepatic stallate cell line HSC-T6 and isolated WJ-MSCs were used for in vitro adhesion, migration and mechanistic studies. RESULTS WJ-MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cords by an explant method and characterized by flow cytometry. A single infusion of WJ-MSCs to TAA-treated mice significantly reduced collagen deposition and ameliorated liver fibrosis after 2-week therapy. In addition to enhanced expression of hepatic regenerative factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and PCNA proliferative marker, WJ-MSC therapy significantly blunted pro-fibrogenic signals, including Smad2, RhoA, ERK. Intriguingly, reduction of plasma fibronectin (pFN) in fibrotic livers was noted in MSC-treated mice. In vitro studies further demonstrated that suspending MSCs triggered pFN degradation, soluble pFN conversely retarded adhesion of suspending MSCs onto type I collagen-coated surface, whereas pFN coating enhanced WJ-MSC migration across mimicked wound bed. Moreover, pretreatment with soluble pFN and conditioned medium from MSCs with pFN strikingly attenuated the response of HSC-T6 cells to TGF-β1-stimulation in Smad2 phosphorylation and RhoA upregulation. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that cytotherapy using WJ-MSCs may modulate hepatic pFN deposition for a better regenerative niche in the fibrotic livers and may constitute a useful anti-fibrogenic intervention in chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsien Kao
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, No. 1, Yida Rd., Yanchau District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lin
- Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Huang Lee
- Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Committee for Integration and Promotion of Advanced Medicine and Biotechnology, E-Da Healthcare Group, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Han Chen
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, No. 1, Yida Rd., Yanchau District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan
| | - Tzong-Shyuan Tai
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, No. 1, Yida Rd., Yanchau District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan
| | - Yo-Chen Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Huei Chou
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Center for General Education, Cheng-Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Chang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, No. 1, Yida Rd., Yanchau District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan.
| | - Cheuk-Kwan Sun
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, No. 1, Yida Rd., Yanchau District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan. .,The School of Medicine for International Students, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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10
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Hatori M, Moriya S, Fujimori M, Kobayashi S, Ikota H, Shirabe K, Yokoo H, Kimura K, Saio M. Phosphomolybdic Acid Prevents Nonspecific Nuclear Staining by Picrosirius Red but Is Converted to Molybdenum Blue by Blue Light. J Histochem Cytochem 2020; 68:621-634. [PMID: 32674674 DOI: 10.1369/0022155420942620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Picrosirius red (PSR) staining is generally used to evaluate liver fibrosis; however, PSR sometimes causes nonspecific nuclear staining. In this study, we evaluated the ability of phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) pretreatment to prevent nonspecific nuclear staining by PSR. In a manual evaluation of 27 non-tumor samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, nonspecific nuclear staining was observed in 3.7% of PMA-treated specimens, compared with 85.2% of untreated specimens. Conversely, computer-assisted image analysis (CAIA) identified nonspecific nuclear staining in 0% of PMA-treated samples, vs 44.4% of untreated samples. Surprisingly, after mounting, PMA-treated specimens exhibited a blue tinge because of molybdenum blue (MB) production following sunlight exposure or virtual slide scanning. Using UV cut film, MB production induced by sunlight exposure was prevented; however, the film did not prevent MB production during virtual slide scanning. Moreover, only blue light-emitting diode exposure resulted in a blue tinge in PMA solution. Our data indicated that PMA pretreatment is effective for evaluating liver fibrosis using CAIA. Meanwhile, improvements in virtual slide scanning protocols would directly improve the quality of PMA-pretreated specimens subjected to CAIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuho Hatori
- Laboratory of Histopathology and Cytopathology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Shunichi Moriya
- Laboratory of Histopathology and Cytopathology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Misa Fujimori
- Laboratory of Histopathology and Cytopathology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Sayaka Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Histopathology and Cytopathology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hayato Ikota
- Clinical Department of Pathology, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hideaki Yokoo
- Department of Human Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kiminori Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanao Saio
- Laboratory of Histopathology and Cytopathology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
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11
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Enhancing the Value of Histopathological Assessment of Allograft Biopsy Monitoring. Transplantation 2020; 103:1306-1322. [PMID: 30768568 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Traditional histopathological allograft biopsy evaluation provides, within hours, diagnoses, prognostic information, and mechanistic insights into disease processes. However, proponents of an array of alternative monitoring platforms, broadly classified as "invasive" or "noninvasive" depending on whether allograft tissue is needed, question the value proposition of tissue histopathology. The authors explore the pros and cons of current analytical methods relative to the value of traditional and illustrate advancements of next-generation histopathological evaluation of tissue biopsies. We describe the continuing value of traditional histopathological tissue assessment and "next-generation pathology (NGP)," broadly defined as staining/labeling techniques coupled with digital imaging and automated image analysis. Noninvasive imaging and fluid (blood and urine) analyses promote low-risk, global organ assessment, and "molecular" data output, respectively; invasive alternatives promote objective, "mechanistic" insights by creating gene lists with variably increased/decreased expression compared with steady state/baseline. Proponents of alternative approaches contrast their preferred methods with traditional histopathology and: (1) fail to cite the main value of traditional and NGP-retention of spatial and inferred temporal context available for innumerable objective analyses and (2) belie an unfamiliarity with the impact of advances in imaging and software-guided analytics on emerging histopathology practices. Illustrative NGP examples demonstrate the value of multidimensional data that preserve tissue-based spatial and temporal contexts. We outline a path forward for clinical NGP implementation where "software-assisted sign-out" will enable pathologists to conduct objective analyses that can be incorporated into their final reports and improve patient care.
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12
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Gawrieh S, Sethunath D, Cummings OW, Kleiner DE, Vuppalanchi R, Chalasani N, Tuceryan M. Automated quantification and architectural pattern detection of hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD. Ann Diagn Pathol 2020; 47:151518. [PMID: 32531442 DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2020.151518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Accurate detection and quantification of hepatic fibrosis remain essential for assessing the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its response to therapy in clinical practice and research studies. Our aim was to develop an integrated artificial intelligence-based automated tool to detect and quantify hepatic fibrosis and assess its architectural pattern in NAFLD liver biopsies. Digital images of the trichrome-stained slides of liver biopsies from patients with NAFLD and different severity of fibrosis were used. Two expert liver pathologists semi-quantitatively assessed the severity of fibrosis in these biopsies and using a web applet provided a total of 987 annotations of different fibrosis types for developing, training and testing supervised machine learning models to detect fibrosis. The collagen proportionate area (CPA) was measured and correlated with each of the pathologists semi-quantitative fibrosis scores. Models were created and tested to detect each of six potential fibrosis patterns. There was good to excellent correlation between CPA and the pathologist score of fibrosis stage. The coefficient of determination (R2) of automated CPA with the pathologist stages ranged from 0.60 to 0.86. There was considerable overlap in the calculated CPA across different fibrosis stages. For identification of fibrosis patterns, the models areas under the receiver operator curve were 78.6% for detection of periportal fibrosis, 83.3% for pericellular fibrosis, 86.4% for portal fibrosis and >90% for detection of normal fibrosis, bridging fibrosis, and presence of nodule/cirrhosis. In conclusion, an integrated automated tool could accurately quantify hepatic fibrosis and determine its architectural patterns in NAFLD liver biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Gawrieh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America.
| | - Deepak Sethunath
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Oscar W Cummings
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - David E Kleiner
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Raj Vuppalanchi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Naga Chalasani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Mihran Tuceryan
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
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13
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Leite C, Starosta RT, Trindade EN, Trindade MRM, Álvares-da-Silva MR, Cerski CTS. Corrected integrated density: a novel method for liver elastic fibers quantification in chronic hepatitis C. SURGICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s42047-020-0055-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Elastic fibers deposition is triggered during liver fibrosis and is related to worse clinical prognosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. This study aimed to verify if a new method for elastic fiber quantification can be used to discriminate between different degrees of fibrosis in liver biopsies of patients with hepatitis C.
Methods
Individuals presenting with different degrees of fibrosis in liver biopsy were included. Slides of liver samples were stained with orcein with and without prior oxidation. Morphometric analysis was proceeded, and quantification accomplished by corrected integrated density.
Results
Twenty-seven patients, mean age 52 years-old, 59% women, were included. Elastic fibers density was higher in advanced fibrosis patients and there was a positive correlation with Metavir score (Spearman r = 0.609, p < 0.001), as well as with the noninvasive scores Fib-4 (Pearson r = 0.46, p = 0.029) and APRI (r = 0.52, p = 0.01).
Conclusion
Morphometric analysis by corrected integrated density demonstrates that elastic fibers abundance is higher in advanced stage of fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C.
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14
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Musolino V, Gliozzi M, Scarano F, Bosco F, Scicchitano M, Nucera S, Carresi C, Ruga S, Zito MC, Maiuolo J, Macrì R, Amodio N, Juli G, Tassone P, Mollace R, Caffrey R, Marioneaux J, Walker R, Ehrlich J, Palma E, Muscoli C, Bedossa P, Salvemini D, Mollace V, Sanyal AJ. Bergamot Polyphenols Improve Dyslipidemia and Pathophysiological Features in a Mouse Model of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2565. [PMID: 32054943 PMCID: PMC7018973 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59485-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need for continued drug development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Bergamot is a plant whose fruit juice is enriched with flavonoids and phenolic compounds which improves dyslipidemia and markers of systemic inflammation in patients with Metabolic Syndrome. The aim of this study was to perform a preclinical "proof of concept" study of Bergamot polyphenolic formulation (BPF99) for the treatment of NASH. A disease reversal study was performed in the diet-induced animal model of NAFLD (DIAMOND). Groups of 8 weeks old mice were randomly assigned to receive chow diet, high fat diet with sugar in drinking water (Western diet- WD). Mice on WD were further randomized to continue on WD gavaged with vehicle or continue on WD with additional gavage of BPF99 (50 mg/kg) after 16 weeks of diet. Mice were euthanized after 11 additional weeks. The primary endpoint was resolution of NASH. Secondary endpoints included changes in individual histological features, body weight, liver enzymes, dyslipidemia, markers of oxidative stress and molecular markers of disease activity and fibrosis. The results showed that BPF99 reduced ALT (mean 71.6 vs 44.6 IU/l, p < 0.01), triglycerides (38.8 vs 28.1 mg/dl, p < 0.05), LDL-C (39.2 vs 23.7 mg/dl, p < 0.001). It significantly improved NASH resolution (p < 0.001) and the SAF scores (p < 0.05) while the NAS improvement approached significance. BPF99 reduced markers of oxidative stress, along with reduced JNK and p38 MAP kinase activity. BPF99 did not reduce the number of mice with fibrosis but improved collagen proportional area (p < 0.04) and procollagen I and III expression. Collectively our results showed that BPF99 resolves NASH and ameliorates key histological and pathophysiological features of NASH along with improvement in ALT and dyslipidemia in the DIAMOND mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Musolino
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. .,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Micaela Gliozzi
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Federica Scarano
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Bosco
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Miriam Scicchitano
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Saverio Nucera
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Cristina Carresi
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefano Ruga
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Zito
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Jessica Maiuolo
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Roberta Macrì
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giada Juli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Tassone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rocco Mollace
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rebecca Caffrey
- Sanyal biotechnology, 800 E Leigh St, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | | | - Ross Walker
- Macquarie University Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Ernesto Palma
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carolina Muscoli
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Liverpat, Paris, France.,Institute of Cellular Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
| | - Daniela Salvemini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Vincenzo Mollace
- Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Nutramed S.c.a.r.l. Complesso Ninì Barbieri, Roccelletta di Borgia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Sanyal biotechnology, 800 E Leigh St, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA.
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15
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Quantitative SHG-microscopy: Unraveling the nano-architecture of the cirrhotic liver. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2020; 44:1-3. [PMID: 31416788 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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16
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Patel K, Sebastiani G. Limitations of non-invasive tests for assessment of liver fibrosis. JHEP Rep 2020; 2:100067. [PMID: 32118201 PMCID: PMC7047178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2020.100067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnostic assessment of liver injury is an important step in the management of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Although liver biopsy is the reference standard for the assessment of necroinflammation and fibrosis, the inherent limitations of an invasive procedure, and need for repeat sampling, have led to the development of several non-invasive tests (NITs) as alternatives to liver biopsy. Such non-invasive approaches mostly include biological (serum biomarker algorithms) or physical (imaging assessment of tissue stiffness) assessments. However, currently available NITs have several limitations, such as variability, inadequate accuracy and risk factors for error, while the development of a newer generation of biomarkers for fibrosis may be limited by the sampling error inherent to the reference standard. Many of the current NITs were initially developed to diagnose significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C, subsequently refined for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and further adapted for prognostication in CLD. An important consideration is that despite their increased use in clinical practice, these NITs were not designed to reflect the dynamic process of fibrogenesis, differentiate between adjacent disease stages, diagnose non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or follow longitudinal changes in fibrosis or disease activity caused by natural history or therapeutic intervention. Understanding the strengths and limitations of these NITs will allow for more judicious interpretation in the clinical context, where NITs should be viewed as complementary to, rather than as a replacement for, liver biopsy.
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Key Words
- AGA, American Gastroenterology Association
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- APRI, AST-platelet ratio index
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- AUC, area under the curve
- BMI, body mass index
- Biomarkers
- CAP, controlled attenuation parameter
- CHB, chronic hepatitis B
- CHC, chronic hepatitis C
- CLD, chronic liver disease
- CPA, collagen proportionate area
- DAA, direct-acting antiviral
- ELF, enhanced liver fibrosis
- Elastography
- FIB-4, fibrosis-4
- FLIP, fatty liver inhibition of progression
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- IFN, interferon
- LSM, liver stiffness measure
- Liver biopsy
- MR, magnetic resonance
- MRE, magnetic resonance elastography
- NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NFS, NAFLD fibrosis score
- NITs, non-invasive tests
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- SVR, sustained virologic response
- US, ultrasound
- VCTE, vibration-controlled transient elastography
- Viral hepatitis
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyur Patel
- Division of Gastroenterology, University Health Network Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Corresponding author. Address: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Toronto Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, 9EN, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4.
| | - Giada Sebastiani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
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17
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Hamid H, Zhang JY, Li WX, Liu C, Li ML, Zhao LH, Ji C, Ma QG. Interactions between the cecal microbiota and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using laying hens as the model. Poult Sci 2019; 98:2509-2521. [PMID: 30690636 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease has caused increasing numbers of deaths worldwide. Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome, one of the chronic liver diseases in laying hens, has great similarity to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. It is characterized by the pathological accumulation of liver fat. Non-invasive techniques are needed for early identification of fibrosis. As primary de novo lipogenesis in the liver of chicken is similar to that of humans, mature chicken is an ideal animal model for the understanding of NAFLD. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationships between gut microbiota and natural chronic liver disease (i.e., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH] and fibrosis stages) in a well-characterized laying hen population. One hundred 20-wk-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were used and fed with basal diets until 52 wk of age. At the end of the experiment, birds were killed for sampling blood, liver, and cecal contents, and then classified by liver histology measurement into different groups. We investigated microbial community structure of cecum using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Subjects in stage 0 fibrosis without NASH were classified as low NAFLD (Group A), subjects in stage 1-2 fibrosis with mild to moderate NASH were defined as low NASH (Group B), and subjects in stage 3 fibrosis were defined as severe NASH (Group C). The abundance of Firmicutes was reduced in Groups B and C (P < 0.001), whereas opposite results were observed for the abundance of Bacteroidetes. Additionally, the families Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae Lachnospiraceae, and lactobacillae were significantly different between groups of differing fibrosis stages (P < 0.001), driven entirely by alterations of Bacteroides and lactobacillus and lachnospiraceae genera (P < 0.001), were observed. Results indicated that cecal dysbiosis was linked with the severity of fibrosis and NASH; importantly, increased levels of serum AST, alkaline phosphatase, and uric acid were accompanied with liver fibrosis and NASH severity. Collectively, these data highlight the role of gut-liver axis and associations between the gut microbiota and fibrosis and NASH severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hamid
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - J Y Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Materials of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - W X Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - C Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - M L Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - L H Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - C Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Q G Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
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18
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Cai FF, Bian YQ, Wu R, Sun Y, Chen XL, Yang MD, Zhang QR, Hu Y, Sun MY, Su SB. Yinchenhao decoction suppresses rat liver fibrosis involved in an apoptosis regulation mechanism based on network pharmacology and transcriptomic analysis. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 114:108863. [PMID: 30991286 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula that has been widely used in the treatment of liver fibrosis caused by chronic hepatitis B and jaundice for more than 1800 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the apoptosis regulation mechanisms of YCHD and its active components suppresses liver fibrosis. The active components and putative targets of YCHD were predicted by network pharmacology approach. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis were presented in the present study by using clusterProfiler. Further, experimental validation was done by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and western blotting in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis rats, and cell proliferation assay, apoptosis assay, and western blotting in human hepatic L02 cells and LX2 cells. 45 active compounds in YCHD formula, 592 potential target proteins and 1191 liver fibrosis-related human genes were identified. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that YCHD obviously influenced TNF, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Further, In vivo experiment indicated that YCHD treatment not only attenuated the symptoms of liver fibrosis, but also decrease the apoptosis of hepatic parenchyma cells. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that rhein, kaempferol and quercetin treatments remarkably decreased the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and increased p-ERK1/2, PI3K and Bcl-XL protein expression in TNF-α-stimulated L02 cells. On the contrary, rhein, kaempferol, aloe-emodin and quercetin inhibited the proliferation of LX2 cells and up-regulated the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-8. In conclusion, 45 active components and 296 potential targets of YCHD against liver fibrosis were identified by the analysis of network pharmacology and transcriptomics combination. The mechanisms of YCHD against liver fibrosis were involved in the regulation of multiple targets, especially affecting the apoptosis-related signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Fei Cai
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Yan-Qin Bian
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China; Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200052, China.
| | - Rong Wu
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Yang Sun
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Xiao-Le Chen
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Meng-Die Yang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Qian-Ru Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou 563000, China.
| | - Yuanjia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.
| | - Ming-Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
| | - Shi-Bing Su
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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19
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Pan JJ, Bao F, Du E, Skillin C, Frenette CT, Waalen J, Alaparthi L, Goodman ZD, Pockros PJ. Morphometry Confirms Fibrosis Regression From Sustained Virologic Response to Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C. Hepatol Commun 2018; 2:1320-1330. [PMID: 30411079 PMCID: PMC6211322 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained virologic response (SVR) after direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C results in significant decreases in liver stiffness measured by transient elastography (TE). The aim of this study was to clarify if TE can guide post‐SVR management in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis prior to treatment as current guidelines are unclear on the role of TE after SVR. In total, 84 patients with hepatitis C virus and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis and from a single center underwent DAA treatment and achieved SVR. Overall, 62% had improved liver stiffness that was consistent with regression of at least one stage of fibrosis. In the cirrhosis group, 48% showed fibrosis regression by at least two stages by TE (<9.5 kPa). In the F3 fibrosis group, 39% regressed by at least two stages (<7 kPa). The median time from SVR to regression by TE was 1 year. Fifteen patients with liver biopsies prior to SVR underwent a biopsy after SVR; 13 of these patients had improved liver stiffness (to <9.5 kPa). The post‐SVR liver biopsies of only 4 patients showed F1‐F2 while 11 patients showed F3‐F4; however, morphometry of the first 11 biopsied patients revealed that 10 patients had an average 46% decrease in collagen content. Conclusion: This is the first DAA study that also has paired liver biopsies showing fibrosis regression. After SVR is achieved, improvements in liver stiffness measured by TE are seen in a majority of patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis within 2 years. TE improvements are overstated when compared to histologic staging but confirmed with morphometric analysis. It is unclear whether TE following SVR can reliably predict when patients no longer require advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis monitoring after SVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Pan
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scripps Clinic La Jolla CA
| | - Fei Bao
- Department of Pathology La Jolla CA
| | - Emma Du
- Department of Pathology La Jolla CA
| | - Chase Skillin
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scripps Clinic La Jolla CA
| | - Catherine T Frenette
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scripps Clinic La Jolla CA.,Division of Organ Transplantation Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Clinic La Jolla CA
| | | | | | | | - Paul J Pockros
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology Scripps Clinic La Jolla CA.,The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla CA.,The Scripps Translational Science Institute La Jolla CA
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20
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Navrotsky AN. [Diagnostic possibilities of methods for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis]. TERAPEVT ARKH 2018. [PMID: 28635835 DOI: 10.17116/terarkh20168811149-155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The paper reviews the diagnostic possibilities of different methods for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis from the point of view of their clinical application. Histological examination retains its value as the gold standard method in evaluating the liver. Transient elastography is a rather effective tool for identifying severe liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Navrotsky
- Omsk State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Omsk, Russia
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21
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Platelets' increase is associated with improvement of liver fibrosis in entecavir-treated chronic hepatitis B patients with significant liver fibrosis. Hepatol Int 2018; 12:237-243. [PMID: 29700765 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-018-9864-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Reduction of platelet count is often observed in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with significant liver fibrosis. In this cohort study, we investigated whether platelets' increase after entecavir (ETV) therapy was associated with the improvement of liver fibrosis. METHODS We collected the data of a cohort 82 CHB patients with paired liver biopsies before and after 78-week ETV therapy, and assessed the platelets' change following the treatment and further investigated the associated clinical factors with platelets' change. RESULTS Platelet count increased after treatment, which occurred mainly in patients with low baseline level of platelet count (< 200 × 109/L) or with significant fibrosis (Ishak ≥ 3). Regression analysis showed that baseline platelet count was the main factor associated with post-treatment increase of platelets (β = - 0.215, p = 0.015). In patients with significant fibrosis, correlation and linear regression analysis revealed that post-treatment platelets' increase was correlated with improvement of liver fibrosis assessed by reduction of quantitative collagen percentage area (r = 0.392, p = 0.006) (β = 2.449, p = 0.035), but no correlation between changes in platelet counts and Ishak fibrosis score. Receiver operating curve analysis showed an increase of 12.5 × 109/L in platelet count could identify improvement of liver fibrosis (AUC = 0.70). CONCLUSION Platelets' increase after ETV therapy was associated to the improvement of liver fibrosis with reduction of collagen percentage area in CHB patients with significant fibrosis.
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22
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Quantitative assessment of liver fibrosis (qFibrosis) reveals precise outcomes in Ishak "stable" patients on anti-HBV therapy. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2989. [PMID: 29445243 PMCID: PMC5813020 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21179-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current widely used semiquantitative histological assessment methods are insensitive to identify subtle changes of liver fibrosis. Therefore, to precisely assess therapeutic efficacy on chronic hepatitis B (CHB), we explored the utility of qFibrosis (a fully-quantitative morphometric method employing second harmonic generation/two photon excitation fluorescence) in liver fibrosis evaluation. Fibrosis changes were evaluated by Ishak fibrosis scoring and qFibrosis in CHB patients with paired liver biopsies before and after 78 weeks' antiviral therapy. A total of 162 patients with qualified paired biopsies were enrolled. Ishak fibrosis scoring revealed that 42.6% (69/162) of the patients achieved fibrosis regression (≥1-point decrease), 51.9% (84/162) remained stable, and 5.5% (9/162) showed progression (≥1-point increase). qFibrosis showed similar trends in the groups of regression and progression patients as evaluated by Ishak. However, in Ishak stable patients, qFibrosis revealed hitherto undetected changes, allowing for further subcategorization into regression ("Regression by qFibrosis"; 40/84, 47.6%), stable (29/84, 34.5%), and progression ("Progression by qFibrosis"; 15/84, 17.9%) groups. These newly fine-tuned categories were supported by changes of morphological parameters of fibrosis, collagen percentage area, and liver stiffness measurements. In conclusion, qFibrosis can be used to quantitatively identify subtle changes of liver fibrosis in CHB patients after antiviral therapy.
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23
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Wang L, Liu T, Zhou J, You H, Jia J. Changes in serum chitinase 3-like 1 levels correlate with changes in liver fibrosis measured by two established quantitative methods in chronic hepatitis B patients following antiviral therapy. Hepatol Res 2018; 48:E283-E290. [PMID: 28895260 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM Non-invasive assessment of changes in liver fibrosis is still an unmet medical need in the era of antiviral therapy. Therefore, we explore whether chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), a serum marker of liver fibrosis, can be used as a non-invasive surrogate marker of fibrosis change during treatment. METHODS We correlated serum CHI3L1 levels with liver tissue collagen proportionate area (CPA) in a cohort of 131 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving entecavir-based antiviral therapy for 78 weeks. In addition, we compared this marker with the liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Multivariate regression analyses were undertaken to determine the clinical factors associated with the CHI3L1 levels. RESULTS Before treatment, correlation analysis showed that there were positive correlations between CHI3L1 levels and the CPA (r = 0.351, P < 0.001), and between CHI3L1 and LSM (r = 0.412, P < 0.001). After 78 weeks treatment, serum CHI3L1 levels decreased compared with that at baseline (87.8 vs. 69.6 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and CHI3L1 levels were also correlated with CPA (r = 0.293, P = 0.001) and LSM (r = 0.443, P < 0.001). Furthermore, there were positive correlations between the changes in CHI3L1 and CPA (r = 0.366, P<0.001), and changes in CHI3L1 and LSM (r = 0.438, P<0.001). Multivariate regression analyses indicated that CPA values were related with pre- (β = 5.450, P = 0.019) and post-treatment CHI3L1 levels (β = 7.460, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Chitinase 3-like 1 is not only a useful non-invasive marker for the assessment of liver fibrosis in CHB patients before treatment, but also a potential useful marker for monitoring the change in liver fibrosis during therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Tianhui Liu
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Jialing Zhou
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Hong You
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
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24
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Ratziu V. A critical review of endpoints for non-cirrhotic NASH therapeutic trials. J Hepatol 2018; 68:353-361. [PMID: 29223369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a disease without a single, specific, diagnostic marker, hence multiple indicators are required to measure therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, drug candidates for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis target many distinct mechanisms that are believed to promote hepatic injury. Therefore, a wide range of endpoints must be reached, sequentially, as required by the drug development process. Some of these endpoints validate the mechanism of action, others are used to anticipate histological efficacy. Histological endpoints are still considered the best predictors of clinical outcome, but they can only be reliably tested in larger, late phase trials. Herein, we will review the rationale and clinical data supporting the use of specific endpoints at different stages of therapeutic trials. We will also discuss the validity and limitations of current phase IIb histological endpoints, particularly a one stage reduction in fibrosis, for their ability to predict progression to cirrhosis, which is the ultimate outcome measure in therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Insitute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.
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25
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Grgurevic L, Erjavec I, Grgurevic I, Dumic-Cule I, Brkljacic J, Verbanac D, Matijasic M, Paljetak HC, Novak R, Plecko M, Bubic-Spoljar J, Rogic D, Kufner V, Pauk M, Bordukalo-Niksic T, Vukicevic S. Systemic inhibition of BMP1-3 decreases progression of CCl 4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Growth Factors 2017; 35:201-215. [PMID: 29482391 DOI: 10.1080/08977194.2018.1428966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a progressive pathological process resulting in an accumulation of excess extracellular matrix proteins. We discovered that bone morphogenetic protein 1-3 (BMP1-3), an isoform of the metalloproteinase Bmp1 gene, circulates in the plasma of healthy volunteers and its neutralization decreases the progression of chronic kidney disease in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Here, we investigated the potential role of BMP1-3 in a chronic liver disease. Rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis were treated with monoclonal anti-BMP1-3 antibodies. Treatment with anti-BMP1-3 antibodies dose-dependently lowered the amount of collagen type I, downregulated the expression of Tgfb1, Itgb6, Col1a1, and Acta2 and upregulated the expression of Ctgf, Itgb1, and Dcn. Mehanistically, BMP1-3 inhibition decreased the plasma levels of transforming growth factor beta 1(TGFβ1) by prevention of its activation and lowered the prodecorin production further suppressing the TGFβ1 profibrotic effect. Our results suggest that BMP1-3 inhibitors have significant potential for decreasing the progression of fibrosis in liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lovorka Grgurevic
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Igor Erjavec
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Ivica Grgurevic
- c Department of Gastroenterology , University Hospital Dubrava, Center for Scientific Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Ivo Dumic-Cule
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Jelena Brkljacic
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Donatella Verbanac
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Mario Matijasic
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Hana Cipcic Paljetak
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Rudjer Novak
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Mihovil Plecko
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Jadranka Bubic-Spoljar
- b Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Dunja Rogic
- d Department of Laboratory Diagnosis , University Hospital Centre , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Vera Kufner
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Martina Pauk
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Tatjana Bordukalo-Niksic
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Slobodan Vukicevic
- a Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Center for Translational and Clinical Research, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb, Scientific Center of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
- c Department of Gastroenterology , University Hospital Dubrava, Center for Scientific Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine , Zagreb , Croatia
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26
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Wang Y, Huang W, Li R, Yun Z, Zhu Y, Yang J, Liu H, Liu Z, Feng Q, Hou J. Systematic quantification of histological patterns shows accuracy in reflecting cirrhotic remodeling. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 32:1631-1639. [PMID: 28068755 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM There still lacks a tool for precisely evaluating cirrhotic remodeling. Histologic distortion characterized in cirrhosis (i.e. cirrhotic patterns) has a validated pathophysiological meaning and potential relevance to clinical complications. We aimed to establish a new tool to quantify the cirrhotic patterns and test it for reflecting the cirrhotic remodeling. METHODS We designed a computerized algorithm, named qCP, dedicated for the analysis of liver images acquired by second harmonic microscopy. We evaluated its measurement by using a cohort of 95 biopsies (Ishak staging F4/5/6 = 33/35/27) of chronic hepatitis B and a carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rat model for simulating the bidirectional cirrhotic change. RESULTS QCP can characterize 14 histological cirrhosis parameters involving the nodules, septa, sinusoid, and vessels. For chronic hepatitis B biopsies, the mean overall intra-observer and inter-observer agreement was 0.94 ± 0.08 and 0.93 ± 0.09, respectively. The robustness in resisting sample adequacy-related scoring error was demonstrated. The proportionate areas of total (collagen proportionate area), septal (septal collagen proportionate area [SPA]), sinusoidal, and vessel collagen, nodule area, and nodule density (ND) were associated with Ishak staging (P < 0.01 for all). But only ND and SPA were independently associated (P ≤ 0.001 for both). A histological cirrhosis parameters-composed qCP-index demonstrated an excellent accuracy in quantitatively diagnosing evolving cirrhosis (areas under receiver operating characteristic curves 0.95-0.92; sensitivity 0.93-0.82; specificity 0.94-0.85). In the rat model, changes in collagen proportionate area, SPA, and ND had strong correlations with both cirrhosis progression and regression and faithfully characterized the histological evolution. CONCLUSIONS QCP preliminarily demonstrates potential for quantitating cirrhotic remodeling with high resolution and accuracy. Further validation with in-study cohorts and multiple-etiologies is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research; Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Biomedical Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruhua Li
- Biomedical Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Yun
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youfu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research; Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlian Yang
- Biomedical Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailin Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianjin Feng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research; Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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27
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Horowitz JM, Venkatesh SK, Ehman RL, Jhaveri K, Kamath P, Ohliger MA, Samir AE, Silva AC, Taouli B, Torbenson MS, Wells ML, Yeh B, Miller FH. Evaluation of hepatic fibrosis: a review from the society of abdominal radiology disease focus panel. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2017. [PMID: 28624924 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-017-1211-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is potentially reversible; however early diagnosis is necessary for treatment in order to halt progression to cirrhosis and development of complications including portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Morphologic signs of cirrhosis on ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone are unreliable and are seen with more advanced disease. Newer imaging techniques to diagnose liver fibrosis are reliable and accurate, and include magnetic resonance elastography and US elastography (one-dimensional transient elastography and point shear wave elastography or acoustic radiation force impulse imaging). Research is ongoing with multiple other techniques for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis, including MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging, hepatobiliary contrast enhancement, and perfusion; CT using perfusion, fractional extracellular space techniques, and dual-energy, contrast-enhanced US, texture analysis in multiple modalities, quantitative mapping, and direct molecular imaging probes. Efforts to advance the noninvasive imaging assessment of hepatic fibrosis will facilitate earlier diagnosis and improve patient monitoring with the goal of preventing the progression to cirrhosis and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne M Horowitz
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Sudhakar K Venkatesh
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Richard L Ehman
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kartik Jhaveri
- Division of Abdominal Imaging, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Mt. Sinai Hospital & Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Patrick Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Michael A Ohliger
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, UCSF School of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Anthony E Samir
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Alvin C Silva
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA
| | - Bachir Taouli
- Department of Radiology and Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, Box 1234, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Michael S Torbenson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Michael L Wells
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Benjamin Yeh
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, UCSF School of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Frank H Miller
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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28
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Rókusz A, Veres D, Szücs A, Bugyik E, Mózes M, Paku S, Nagy P, Dezső K. Ductular reaction correlates with fibrogenesis but does not contribute to liver regeneration in experimental fibrosis models. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176518. [PMID: 28445529 PMCID: PMC5405957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Ductular reaction is a standard component of fibrotic liver tissue but its function is largely unknown. It is supposed to interact with the matrix producing myofibroblasts and compensate the declining regenerative capacity of hepatocytes. The relationship between the extent of fibrosis—ductular reaction, proliferative activity of hepatocytes and ductular reaction were studied sequentially in experimental hepatic fibrosis models. Methods Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was induced in wild type and TGFβ overproducing transgenic mice by carbon tetrachloride and thioacetamide administration. The effect of thioacetamide was modulated by treatment with imatinib and erlotinib. The extent of ductular reaction and fibrosis was measured by morphometry following cytokeratin 19 immunofluorescent labeling and Picro Sirius staining respectively. The proliferative activity of hepatocytes and ductular reaction was evaluated by BrdU incorporation. The temporal distribution of the parameters was followed and compared within and between different experimental groups. Results There was a strong significant correlation between the extent of fibrosis and ductular reaction in each experimental group. Although imatinib and erlotinib temporarily decreased fibrosis this effect later disappeared. We could not observe negative correlation between the proliferation of hepatocytes and ductular reaction in any of the investigated models. Conclusions The stringent connection between ductular reaction and fibrosis, which cannot be influenced by any of our treatment regimens, suggests that there is a close mutual interaction between them instead of a unidirectional causal relationship. Our results confirm a close connection between DR and fibrogenesis. However, since the two parameters changed together we could not establish a causal relationship and were unable to reveal which was the primary event. The lack of inverse correlation between the proliferation of hepatocytes and ductular reaction questions that ductular reaction can compensate for the failing regenerative activity of hepatocytes. No evidences support the persistent antifibrotic property of imatinib or erlotinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Rókusz
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dániel Veres
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Armanda Szücs
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edina Bugyik
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Mózes
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Paku
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Tumor Progression Research Group, Joint Research Organization of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Nagy
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Dezső
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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29
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Liu F, Chen L, Rao HY, Teng X, Ren YY, Lu YQ, Zhang W, Wu N, Liu FF, Wei L. Automated evaluation of liver fibrosis in thioacetamide, carbon tetrachloride, and bile duct ligation rodent models using second-harmonic generation/two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy. J Transl Med 2017; 97:84-92. [PMID: 27918557 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models provide a useful platform for developing and testing new drugs to treat liver fibrosis. Accordingly, we developed a novel automated system to evaluate liver fibrosis in rodent models. This system uses second-harmonic generation (SHG)/two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy to assess a total of four mouse and rat models, using chemical treatment with either thioacetamide (TAA) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and a surgical method, bile duct ligation (BDL). The results obtained by the new technique were compared with that using Ishak fibrosis scores and two currently used quantitative methods for determining liver fibrosis: the collagen proportionate area (CPA) and measurement of hydroxyproline (HYP) content. We show that 11 shared morphological parameters faithfully recapitulate Ishak fibrosis scores in the models, with high area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) performance. The AUC values of 11 shared parameters were greater than that of the CPA (TAA: 0.758-0.922 vs 0.752-0.908; BDL: 0.874-0.989 vs 0.678-0.966) in the TAA mice and BDL rat models and similar to that of the CPA in the TAA rat and CCl4 mouse models. Similarly, based on the trends in these parameters at different time points, 9, 10, 7, and 2 model-specific parameters were selected for the TAA rats, TAA mice, CCl4 mice, and BDL rats, respectively. These parameters identified differences among the time points in the four models, with high AUC accuracy, and the corresponding AUC values of these parameters were greater compared with those of the CPA in the TAA rat and mouse models (rats: 0.769-0.894 vs 0.64-0.799; mice: 0.87-0.93 vs 0.739-0.836) and similar to those of the CPA in the CCl4 mouse and BDL rat models. Similarly, the AUC values of 11 shared parameters and model-specific parameters were greater than those of HYP in the TAA rats, TAA mice, and CCl4 mouse models and were similar to those of HYP in the BDL rat models. The automated evaluation system, combined with 11 shared parameters and model-specific parameters, could specifically, accurately, and quantitatively stage liver fibrosis in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Long Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Ying Rao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Teng
- Hangzhou Choutu Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ya-Yun Ren
- Hangzhou Choutu Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Wei Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Fang-Fang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lai Wei
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing, China
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30
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Asgharpour A, Cazanave SC, Pacana T, Seneshaw M, Vincent R, Banini BA, Kumar DP, Daita K, Min HK, Mirshahi F, Bedossa P, Sun X, Hoshida Y, Koduru SV, Contaifer D, Warncke UO, Wijesinghe DS, Sanyal AJ. A diet-induced animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. J Hepatol 2016; 65:579-88. [PMID: 27261415 PMCID: PMC5012902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 339] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The lack of a preclinical model of progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that recapitulates human disease is a barrier to therapeutic development. METHODS A stable isogenic cross between C57BL/6J (B6) and 129S1/SvImJ (S129) mice were fed a high fat diet with ad libitum consumption of glucose and fructose in physiologically relevant concentrations and compared to mice fed a chow diet and also to both parent strains. RESULTS Following initiation of the obesogenic diet, B6/129 mice developed obesity, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and increased LDL-cholesterol. They sequentially also developed steatosis (4-8weeks), steatohepatitis (16-24weeks), progressive fibrosis (16weeks onwards) and spontaneous hepatocellular cancer (HCC). There was a strong concordance between the pattern of pathway activation at a transcriptomic level between humans and mice with similar histological phenotypes (FDR 0.02 for early and 0.08 for late time points). Lipogenic, inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways activated in human NASH were also activated in these mice. The HCC gene signature resembled the S1 and S2 human subclasses of HCC (FDR 0.01 for both). Only the B6/129 mouse but not the parent strains recapitulated all of these aspects of human NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS We here describe a diet-induced animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (DIAMOND) that recapitulates the key physiological, metabolic, histologic, transcriptomic and cell-signaling changes seen in humans with progressive NASH. LAY SUMMARY We have developed a diet-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic cancers in a cross between two mouse strains (129S1/SvImJ and C57Bl/6J). This model mimics all the physiological, metabolic, histological, transcriptomic gene signature and clinical endpoints of human NASH and can facilitate preclinical development of therapeutic targets for NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amon Asgharpour
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Sophie C Cazanave
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA.
| | - Tommy Pacana
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Mulugeta Seneshaw
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Robert Vincent
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Bubu A Banini
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Divya Prasanna Kumar
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Kalyani Daita
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Hae-Ki Min
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Faridoddin Mirshahi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Beaujon, University Paris-Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Xiaochen Sun
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | - Daniel Contaifer
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Urszula Osinska Warncke
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Dayanjan S Wijesinghe
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341, USA.
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Ebrahimi H, Naderian M, Sohrabpour AA. New Concepts on Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis; A Review Article. Middle East J Dig Dis 2016; 8:166-178. [PMID: 27698966 PMCID: PMC5045669 DOI: 10.15171/mejdd.2016.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a potentially reversible response to hepatic insults, triggered by different chronic diseases most importantly viral hepatitis, alcoholic, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In the course of the chronic liver disease, hepatic fibrogenesis may develop, which is attributed to various types of cells, molecules, and pathways. Activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC), the primary source of extracellular matrix (ECM), is fundamental in pathophysiology of fibrogenesis, and thus is the most attractable target for reversing liver fibrosis. Although, liver biopsy has long been considered as the gold standard for diagnosis and staging of hepatic fibrosis, assessing progression and regression by biopsy is hampered by its limitations. We provide recent views on noninvasive approaches including serum biomarkers and radiologic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedyeh Ebrahimi
- Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Naderian
- Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ali Sohrabpour
- Assistant Professor, Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Yegin EG, Yegin K, Ozdogan OC. Digital image analysis in liver fibrosis: basic requirements and clinical implementation. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2016.1181989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ender Gunes Yegin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Bozyaka State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Korkut Yegin
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Osman Cavit Ozdogan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Quaglia A, Alves VA, Balabaud C, Bhathal PS, Bioulac-Sage P, Crawford JM, Dhillon AP, Ferrell L, Guido M, Hytiroglou P, Nakanuma Y, Paradis V, Snover DC, Theise ND, Thung SN, Tsui WMS, van Leeuwen DJ. Role of aetiology in the progression, regression, and parenchymal remodelling of liver disease: implications for liver biopsy interpretation. Histopathology 2016; 68:953-67. [DOI: 10.1111/his.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Quaglia
- Institute of Liver Studies; King's College Hospital and King's College; London UK
| | - Venancio A Alves
- Department of Pathology; University of São Paulo School of Medicine; São Paulo Brazil
| | | | - Prithi S Bhathal
- Department of Pathology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
| | | | - James M Crawford
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine; Hempstead NY USA
| | - Amar P Dhillon
- Department of Cellular Pathology; UCL Medical School; London UK
| | - Linda Ferrell
- Department of Pathology; University of California; San Francisco CA USA
| | - Maria Guido
- Department of Medicine-DIMED; Pathology Unit; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - Prodromos Hytiroglou
- Department of Pathology; Aristotle University Medical School; Thessaloniki Greece
| | - Yasuni Nakanuma
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology; Shizuoka Cancer Center; Shizuoka Japan
| | | | - Dale C Snover
- Department of Pathology; Fairview Southdale Hospital; Edina MN USA
| | - Neil D Theise
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine (Division of Digestive Diseases); Beth Israel Medical Center of Albert Einstein College of Medicine; New York NY USA
| | - Swan N Thung
- Department of Pathology; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY USA
| | - Wilson M S Tsui
- Department of Pathology; Caritas Medical Centre; Hong Kong China
| | - Dirk J van Leeuwen
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Dartmouth Medical School; Hanover NH USA
- Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis; Amsterdam the Netherlands
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Behairy BES, Sira MM, Zalata KR, Salama ESE, Abd-Allah MA. Transient elastography compared to liver biopsy and morphometry for predicting fibrosis in pediatric chronic liver disease: Does etiology matter? World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:4238-4249. [PMID: 27122674 PMCID: PMC4837441 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i16.4238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate transient elastography (TE) as a noninvasive tool in staging liver fibrosis compared with liver biopsy and morphometry in children with different chronic liver diseases.
METHODS: A total of 90 children [50 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), 20 with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 20 with Wilson disease] were included in the study and underwent liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using TE. Liver biopsies were evaluated for fibrosis, qualitatively, by Ishak score and quantitatively by fibrosis area fraction (FAF) using digital image analysis (morphometry). LSM was correlated with fibrosis and other studied variables using spearman correlation. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was also performed to examine independent factors associated with LSM. Different cut-off values of LSM were calculated for predicting individual fibrosis stages using receiver-operating characteristic curve. Cut-off values with optimal clinical performance (optimal sensitivity and specificity simultaneously) were selected.
RESULTS: The majority of HCV group had minimal activity (80%) and no/mild fibrosis (72%). On the other hand, the majority of AIH group had mild to moderate activity (70%) and moderate to severe fibrosis (95%) and all Wilson disease group had mild to moderate activity (100%) and moderate to severe fibrosis (100%). LSM correlated significantly with both FAF and Ishak scores and the correlation appeared better with the latter (r = 0.839 vs 0.879, P < 0.0001 for both). LSM discriminated individual stages of fibrosis with high performance. Sensitivity ranged from 81.4% to 100% and specificity ranged from 75.0% to 97.2%. When we compared LSM values for the same stage of fibrosis, they varied according to the different etiologies. Higher values were in AIH (16.15 ± 7.23 kPa) compared to Wilson disease (8.30 ± 0.84 kPa) and HCV groups (7.43 ± 1.73 kPa). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Ishak fibrosis stage was the only independent variable associated with higher LSM (P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: TE appears reliable in distinguishing different stages of liver fibrosis in children. However, its values vary according to the disease type. For that, a disease-specific estimation of cut-off values for fibrosis staging is worthy.
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Irvine KM, Wockner LF, Shanker M, Fagan KJ, Horsfall LU, Fletcher LM, Ungerer JPJ, Pretorius CJ, Miller GC, Clouston AD, Lampe G, Powell EE. The Enhanced liver fibrosis score is associated with clinical outcomes and disease progression in patients with chronic liver disease. Liver Int 2016; 36:370-7. [PMID: 26104018 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Current tools for risk stratification of chronic liver disease subjects are limited. We aimed to determine whether the serum-based ELF (Enhanced Liver Fibrosis) test predicted liver-related clinical outcomes, or progression to advanced liver disease, and to compare the performance of ELF to liver biopsy and non-invasive algorithms. METHODS Three hundred patients with ELF scores assayed at the time of liver biopsy were followed up (median 6.1 years) for liver-related clinical outcomes (n = 16) and clear evidence of progression to advanced fibrosis (n = 18), by review of medical records and clinical data. RESULTS Fourteen of 73 (19.2%) patients with ELF score indicative of advanced fibrosis (≥9.8, the manufacturer's cut-off) had a liver-related clinical outcome, compared to only two of 227 (<1%) patients with ELF score <9.8. In contrast, the simple scores APRI and FIB-4 would only have predicted subsequent decompensation in six and four patients respectively. A unit increase in ELF score was associated with a 2.53-fold increased risk of a liver-related event (adjusted for age and stage of fibrosis). In patients without advanced fibrosis on biopsy at recruitment, 55% (10/18) with an ELF score ≥9.8 showed clear evidence of progression to advanced fibrosis (after an average 6 years), whereas only 3.5% of those with an ELF score <9.8 (8/207) progressed (average 14 years). In these subjects, a unit increase in ELF score was associated with a 4.34-fold increased risk of progression. CONCLUSIONS The ELF score is a valuable tool for risk stratification of patients with chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine M Irvine
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leesa F Wockner
- Statistics Unit, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mihir Shanker
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kevin J Fagan
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leigh U Horsfall
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Linda M Fletcher
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jacobus P J Ungerer
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Carel J Pretorius
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregory C Miller
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew D Clouston
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Guy Lampe
- Pathology Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Elizabeth E Powell
- Centre for Liver Disease Research, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Patel K, Tillmann HL, Matta B, Sheridan MJ, Gardner SD, Shackel NA, McHutchison JG, Goodman ZD. Longitudinal assessment of hepatitis C fibrosis progression by collagen and smooth muscle actin morphometry in comparison to serum markers. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2016; 43:356-63. [PMID: 26560052 DOI: 10.1111/apt.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessment of fibrosis progression in chronic liver disease relies upon non-invasive tools and changes in semi-quantitative histopathology scores that may not be reliable. AIM To assess the diagnostic performance of the FibroSURE (FS) index and collagen/alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) morphometry in relation to longitudinal changes in fibrosis on paired biopsies. METHODS The study cohort included 201 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) nonresponders enrolled in a prior phase II anti-fibrotic study. Serum FS and paired biopsies, with both collagen and α-SMA morphometry, were evaluated at baseline and week 52. RESULTS Study patients were mostly male (67%) and Caucasian (77%), with Ishak stages 2 (n = 79), 3 (n = 88) and 4 (n = 30), excluded (n = 4 stage 1 or 5). Mean biopsy length was 22.9 mm. For baseline Ishak 2/3 vs. 4, there were no significant differences in AUROCs for collagen (0.71), SMA (0.66) or FS (0.70). At week 52, 62% of patients had no change in Ishak stage, but collagen/α-SMA increased by 34-51% (P < 0.0001), and FS decreased by 5% (P = 0.008). Among the 33% of patients with +/-1 Ishak stage change, FS changes were not significant, but α-SMA increased 29-72%, and collagen increased by 12-38% (P = 0.01 for +1 only). CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal changes in collagen and α-SMA morphometry are apparent prior to change in histological stage or FibroSURE in CHC nonresponders with intermediate fibrosis. This likely reflects quantitative morphological differences that are not detected by routine histological staging or serum markers such as FibroSURE.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Patel
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Liver Cell Biology, Centenary Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - H L Tillmann
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - B Matta
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M J Sheridan
- Inova Research Center, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA, USA
| | - S D Gardner
- Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - N A Shackel
- Liver Cell Biology, Centenary Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Z D Goodman
- Hepatic Pathology Consultation and Research, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA
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37
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Wang Y, Hou JL. Fibrosis assessment: impact on current management of chronic liver disease and application of quantitative invasive tools. Hepatol Int 2016; 10:448-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s12072-015-9695-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Rókusz A, Nagy E, Gerlei Z, Veres D, Dezső K, Paku S, Szücs A, Hajósi-Kalcakosz S, Pávai Z, Görög D, Kóbori L, Fehérvári I, Nemes B, Nagy P. Quantitative morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis and their correlates in cirrhosis--A study on explant livers. Scand J Gastroenterol 2016; 51:86-94. [PMID: 26166621 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2015.1067902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproducible structural analysis was made on cirrhotic human liver samples in order to reveal potential connections between morphological and laboratory parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS Large histological samples were taken from segment VII of 56 cirrhotic livers removed in connection with liver transplantation. Picro Sirius red and immunohistochemically (smooth muscle actin [SMA], cytokeratin 7 [CK7], Ki-67) stained sections were digitalized and morphometric evaluation was performed. RESULTS The Picro Sirius-stained fibrotic area correlated with the average thickness of the three broadest septa, extent of SMA positivity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values and it was lower in the viral hepatitis related cirrhoses than in samples with non-viral etiology. The extent of SMA staining increased with the CK7-positive ductular reaction. The proliferative activity of the hepatocytes correlated positively with the Ki-67 labeling of the ductular cells and inversely with the septum thickness. These data support the potential functional connection among different structural components, for example, myofibroblasts, ductular reaction and fibrogenesis but challenges the widely proposed role of ductular cells in regeneration. CONCLUSION Unbiased morphological characterization of cirrhotic livers can provide valuable, clinically relevant information. Similar evaluation of routine core biopsies may increase the significance of this 'Gold Standard' examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Rókusz
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Nagy
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Gerlei
- b 2 Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University , 1085, Baross utca 23, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dániel Veres
- c 3 Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University , 1094, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Dezső
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Paku
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary.,d 4 Tumor Progression Research Group, Joint Research Organization of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University , 1051, Nádor utca 7, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Armanda Szücs
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szofia Hajósi-Kalcakosz
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Pávai
- e 5 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures , 540139, Gh. Marinescu 38, Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Dénes Görög
- b 2 Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University , 1085, Baross utca 23, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Kóbori
- b 2 Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University , 1085, Baross utca 23, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Imre Fehérvári
- b 2 Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University , 1085, Baross utca 23, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Nemes
- b 2 Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University , 1085, Baross utca 23, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Nagy
- a 1 First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University , 1085, Üllői út 26, Budapest, Hungary
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Shores NJ, Mendes-Corrêa MC, Maida I, Turner J, High KP, Babudieri S, Núñez M. Hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and α-mRNA expression in HCV-infected adults is decreased by HIV co-infection and is also affected by ethnicity. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2015; 70:790-6. [PMID: 26735218 PMCID: PMC4676314 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2015(12)05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α and γ mRNA expression in liver tissue of hepatitis C virus-infected patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus and its possible contribution to an acceleration of liver disease progression. METHODS We measured peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and γ mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction in liver tissues from 40 subjects infected only with hepatitis C virus, 36 subjects co-infected with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus and 11 normal adults. RESULTS Hepatic mRNA expression of both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors was significantly lower in hepatitis C virus-infected subjects with and without human immunodeficiency virus co-infection compared to the controls. Non-black race was also identified as a predictor of lower peroxisome receptor α and γ mRNA expression. Compared to subjects infected only with hepatitis C virus, liver peroxisome receptor γ mRNA expression was significantly lower in hepatitis C virus/human immunodeficiency virus-co-infected subjects (0.0092 in hepatitis C virus/human immunodeficiency virus-co-infection vs. 0.0120 in hepatitis C virus-only; p=0.004). Hepatic peroxisome receptor α mRNA expression in the hepatitis C virus-infected patients was lower in the presence of human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in non-black subjects (0.0769 vs. 0.1061; p=0.02), whereas the levels did not vary based on human immunodeficiency virus status among black subjects. CONCLUSION mRNA expression of both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors is impaired in hepatitis C virus-infected liver and further reduced by human immunodeficiency virus co-infection, although the suppressive effects of the viruses are substantially mitigated in black patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Shores
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Infectious Diseases, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC, United States
- Charleston Gastroenterology Spec, Charleston/SC, United States
| | - Maria Cássia Mendes-Corrêa
- Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Unidade de Referência em Doenças Infecciosas, Santo André/SP, Brazil
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Corresponding author: E-mail:
| | - Ivana Maida
- Università degli Studi Sassari, Istituto Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Sassari/SS, Italy
| | - JoLyn Turner
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Infectious Diseases, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Kevin P High
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Infectious Diseases, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Sergio Babudieri
- Università degli Studi Sassari, Istituto Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Sassari/SS, Italy
| | - Marina Núñez
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Infectious Diseases, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC, United States
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Kleiner DE, Bedossa P. Liver histology and clinical trials for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-perspectives from 2 pathologists. Gastroenterology 2015; 149:1305-8. [PMID: 26409177 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Université Paris Diderot, UFR de Médecine, Paris, France
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41
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Intermediate fibrosis staging in hepatitis C: a problem not overcome by optimal samples or pathologists’ expertise. Ann Hepatol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s1665-2681(19)30759-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
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Abstract
Objective: The present mini-review updated the progress in methodologies based on using liver biopsy. Data Sources: Articles for study of liver fibrosis, liver biopsy or fibrosis assessment published on high impact peer review journals from 1980 to 2014. Study Selection: Key articles were selected mainly according to their levels of relevance to this topic and citations. Results: With the recently mounting progress in chronic liver disease therapeutics, comes by a pressing need for precise, accurate, and dynamic assessment of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in individual patients. Histopathological information is recognized as the most valuable data for fibrosis assessment. Conventional histology categorical systems describe the changes of fibrosis patterns in liver tissue; but the simplified ordinal digits assigned by these systems cannot reflect the fibrosis dynamics with sufficient precision and reproducibility. Morphometric assessment by computer assist digital image analysis, such as collagen proportionate area (CPA), detects change of fibrosis amount in tissue section in a continuous variable, and has shown its independent diagnostic value for assessment of advanced or late-stage of fibrosis. Due to its evident sensitivity to sampling variances, morphometric measurement is feasible to be taken as a reliable statistical parameter for the study of a large cohort. Combining state-of-art imaging technology and fundamental principle in Tissue Engineering, structure-based quantitation was recently initiated with a novel proof-of-concept tool, qFibrosis. qFibrosis showed not only the superior performance to CPA in accurately and reproducibly differentiating adjacent stages of fibrosis, but also the possibility for facilitating analysis of fibrotic regression and cirrhosis sub-staging. Conclusions: With input from multidisciplinary innovation, liver biopsy assessment as a new “gold standard” is anticipated to substantially support the accelerated progress of Hepatology medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510280, China
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43
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Automated biphasic morphological assessment of hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis using second harmonic generation microscopy. Sci Rep 2015; 5:12962. [PMID: 26260921 PMCID: PMC4531344 DOI: 10.1038/srep12962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis assessment by biopsy and conventional staining scores is based on histopathological criteria. Variations in sample preparation and the use of semi-quantitative histopathological methods commonly result in discrepancies between medical centers. Thus, minor changes in liver fibrosis might be overlooked in multi-center clinical trials, leading to statistically non-significant data. Here, we developed a computer-assisted, fully automated, staining-free method for hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis assessment. In total, 175 liver biopsies were divided into training (n = 105) and verification (n = 70) cohorts. Collagen was observed using second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy without prior staining, and hepatocyte morphology was recorded using two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy. The training cohort was utilized to establish a quantification algorithm. Eleven of 19 computer-recognizable SHG/TPEF microscopic morphological features were significantly correlated with the ISHAK fibrosis stages (P < 0.001). A biphasic scoring method was applied, combining support vector machine and multivariate generalized linear models to assess the early and late stages of fibrosis, respectively, based on these parameters. The verification cohort was used to verify the scoring method, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was >0.82 for liver cirrhosis detection. Since no subjective gradings are needed, interobserver discrepancies could be avoided using this fully automated method.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW It is our opinion that there is an unmet need in hepatology for a minimally or noninvasive test of liver function and physiology. Quantitative liver function tests define the severity and prognosis of liver disease by measuring the clearance of substrates whose uptake or metabolism is dependent upon liver perfusion or hepatocyte function. Substrates with high-affinity hepatic transporters exhibit high 'first-pass' hepatic extraction and their clearance measures hepatic perfusion. In contrast, substrates metabolized by the liver have low first-pass extraction and their clearance measures specific drug metabolizing pathways. RECENT FINDINGS We highlight one quantitative liver function test, the dual cholate test, and introduce the concept of a disease severity index linked to clinical outcome that quantifies the simultaneous processes of hepatocyte uptake, clearance from the systemic circulation, clearance from the portal circulation, and portal-systemic shunting. SUMMARY It is our opinion that dual cholate is a relevant test for defining disease severity, monitoring the natural course of disease progression, and quantifying the response to therapy.
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Abe T, Hashiguchi A, Yamazaki K, Ebinuma H, Saito H, Kumada H, Izumi N, Masaki N, Sakamoto M. Quantification of collagen and elastic fibers using whole-slide images of liver biopsy specimens. Pathol Int 2015; 63:305-10. [PMID: 23782332 DOI: 10.1111/pin.12064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Histological evaluation of fibrosis after a liver biopsy is crucial for evaluating the pathology of patients with chronic liver disease. Previous studies have reported quantitative analyses of fibrosis using images of collagen-stained sections. However, analysis of these studies requires manual selection of the region of interest. In addition, the quantification of elastic fibers is not considered. The present study was conducted in order to measure both the collagen and elastic fiber area ratios using Elastica van Gieson-stained whole-slide images (WSIs) of liver biopsy specimens. High-resolution WSIs provide precise color classification, enabling accurate detection of even fine collagen and elastic fibers. To minimize the influence of pre-existing fibrous tissue, median area ratios of the collagen and elastic fibers were independently calculated from the image tiles of the WSIs. These median area ratios were highly concordant with area ratios after the pre-existing fibrous tissues were manually trimmed from the WSI. Further, these median area ratios were correlated with liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography (collagen: r = 0.73 [P < 0.01], elastic: r = 0.53 [P < 0.01]). Our approach to quantifying liver fibrosis will serve as an effective tool to evaluate liver diseases in routine practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tokiya Abe
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Japan
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Ding H, Ma JJ, Wang WP, Zeng WJ, Jiang T, Huang BJ, Chen SY. Assessment of liver fibrosis: the relationship between point shear wave elastography and quantitative histological analysis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015; 30:553-8. [PMID: 25250854 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Traditional pathological scoring systems for liver fibrosis progression are predominantly based on the description of architectural changes with no consideration of the amount of collagen fiber deposition. Our purpose was to explore a true histological standard in accordance with the liver stiffness measured by point shear wave elastography (PSWE) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS A total of 78 patients with liver neoplasms underwent liver stiffness measurements with PSWE as well as biochemical investigations within 3 days before partial hepatectomy. One tissue section of the liver specimens was stained with HE trichrome and evaluated traditionally with the Scheuer scoring system. The other tissue section was stained with picroSirius red and was evaluated according to the semiquantitative Chevallier et al. scoring system. In addition, this second tissue section was evaluated for the collagen proportionate area (CPA) with computer-assisted digital image analysis. The reproducibility of PSWE technology was explored through the intra-class correlation coefficient of a reliability analysis. RESULTS The PSWE technology revealed good reproducibility in liver stiffness measurements, and the PSWE values increased with the pathological severity of liver fibrosis on both the Scheuer scoring system and the semiquantitative Chevallier et al. scoring system. PSWE values exhibited more reasonable relationships with CPA (r = 0.628, P = 0.00 < 0.05) than with the Scheuer scoring system (r = 0.473, P = 0.00 < 0.05) or the Chevallier et al. semiquantitative scoring system (r = 0.487, P = 0.00 < 0.05). CONCLUSION CPA is a better pathological parameter than traditional semiquantitative scoring systems in accordance with liver stiffness measured by PSWE technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ding
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Multiplex protein analysis to determine fibrosis stage and progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014; 12:2113-20.e1-3. [PMID: 24815325 PMCID: PMC4225180 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2014.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Noninvasive tests cannot differentiate between adjacent stages of fibrosis, which limits assessment of disease progression and regression during therapy. We investigated whether levels of cytokines and extracellular matrix proteins in serum and biopsy samples can be used to determine actual stage of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and in prognosis. METHODS We collected data from 383 treatment-naive patients with CHC from the Duke Hepatology Clinical Research Database and Biorepository, from 2006 through 2009, for use in the training set. Serum samples were obtained from 100 individuals without CHC (controls). We selected 37 serum biomarkers for customized array analysis by using the SearchLight multiplex sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data from 434 treatment-naive patients with CHC, which were obtained from the Trent HCV cohort, were used in the validation analysis. Multivariable modeling, marker selection, and validation included randomForest and Obuchowski measures, with independent comparison with FibroSURE. RESULTS Four serum markers (levels of hyaluronic acid, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, alpha-2 macroglobulin, and retinol-binding protein 4) and age associated with fibrosis stage (F0-1, F2-3, or F4); these had Obuchowski measures of 0.85-0.89, with misclassification rates of 38% and 29% in training and validation sets, compared with 50% for the FibroSURE test. In the training set, area under the curve values for the multiplex markers were similar to those from the FibroSURE test: stages F0 vs F1 (0.51 vs 0.53), F1 vs F2 (0.60 vs 0.59), F2 vs F3 (0.69 vs 0.72), and F3 vs F4 (0.51 vs 0.52). Area under the curve values were similar in the validation cohort. In longitudinal analyses of 133 paired biopsies, 9 markers (level of alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, hyaluronic acid, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin 4, CXCL10, CXCL9, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) were associated with change in the histologic activity index (P values ranging from .000 to .049), and 4 (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin 12, interleukin 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 13) were associated with a change in fibrosis stage (P values ranging from .001 to .042). CONCLUSIONS We identified serum biomarkers that can be measured by multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine levels of fibrosis in patients with CHC, although misclassification is frequent and results are comparable with those from the FibroSURE test. Changes in protein levels in biopsy samples were associated with progression of fibrosis in patients.
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Venturi C, Sempoux C, Quinones JA, Bourdeaux C, Hoyos SP, Sokal E, Reding R. Dynamics of allograft fibrosis in pediatric liver transplantation. Am J Transplant 2014; 14:1648-56. [PMID: 24934832 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Progressive liver allograft fibrosis (LAF) is well known to occur long term, as shown by its high prevalence in late posttransplant liver biopsies (LBs). To evaluate the influence of clinical variables and immunosuppression on LAF progression, LAF dynamic was assessed in 54 pediatric liver transplantation (LT) recipients at 6 months, 3 and 7 years post-LT, reviewing clinical, biochemical data and protocol LBs using METAVIR and the liver allograft fibrosis score, previously designed and validated specifically for LAF assessment. Scoring evaluations were correlated with fibrosis quantification by morphometric analysis. Progressive LAF was found in 74% of long-term patients, 70% of whom had unaltered liver enzymes. Deceased grafts showed more fibrosis than living-related grafts (p = 0.0001). Portal fibrosis was observed in correlation with prolonged ischemia time, deceased grafts and lymphoproliferative disease (p = 0.001, 0.006 and 0.012, respectively). Sinusoidal fibrosis was correlated with biliary complications (p = 0.01). Centrilobular fibrosis was associated with vascular complications (p = 0.044), positive autoantibodies (p = 0.017) and high gamma-globulins levels (p = 0.028). Steroid therapy was not associated with reduced fibrosis (p = 0.83). LAF could be viewed as a dynamic process with mostly progression along the time. Peri- and post-LT-associated factors may condition fibrosis development in a specific area of the liver parenchyma.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Venturi
- Pediatric Surgery and Transplant Unit, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Quantification of portal-bridging fibrosis area more accurately reflects fibrosis stage and liver stiffness than whole fibrosis or perisinusoidal fibrosis areas in chronic hepatitis C. Mod Pathol 2014; 27:1035-45. [PMID: 24390214 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Morphometry provides an objective evaluation of fibrosis in liver diseases. We developed an image analysis algorithm using automated thresholding and segmentation to separately quantify the areas and the fractal dimensions of portal-bridging fibrosis and perisinusoidal fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C liver biopsies. We studied 427 digitized liver biopsies and compared the automated measures of the different fibrosis compartments with (1) the Metavir F (fibrosis) and A (activity) histological scores, (2) the digitally assessed area of steatosis, and (3) the liver stiffness measured by elastography (Fibroscan). The perisinusoidal fibrosis area was higher than that of portal fibrosis in stages ≤F2; it reached its highest value in F2 stage and stabilized thereafter. The F3 stage was characterized by equal proportions of portal-bridging and perisinusoidal fibrosis, whereas portal-bridging area was predominant in cirrhosis. Measurement of portal-bridging fibrosis showed highly significantly different values between contiguous F stages; the ratio of portal-bridging fibrosis/perisinusoidal fibrosis displayed less overlap between Metavir stages than did the whole fibrosis area values. Fractal dimension showed that portal-bridging fibrosis tended to display a homogeneous surface-like spatial organization, whereas perisinusoidal fibrosis appeared more heterogeneous according to stage and curvilinear. The portal-bridging fibrosis area was low in cases with low Metavir activity and little steatosis, and became predominant with increasing activity and steatosis. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, the liver stiffness was independently correlated to the portal-bridging fibrosis area (first step, P<0.001), the steatosis area (second step, P<0.001), and the Metavir A grade (third step, P=0.001), but not to the perisinusoidal fibrosis area. Automated quantification in a large cohort of chronic hepatitis C showed that perisinusoidal fibrosis progressively grew in early fibrosis stages but did not increase in septal or cirrhotic stages and that the portal-bridging fibrosis area appeared as a more accurate tool to assess fibrosis progression than the whole fibrosis area.
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Friedman SL. Replacing a crystal ball with a calculator in predicting liver disease outcomes. J Hepatol 2014; 60:905-6. [PMID: 24486331 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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