Implication of inflammation-related cytokines in the natural history of liver cirrhosis

Portal Hypertension in Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Decompensated Cirrhosis-Pathogenesis, Implications and Therapeutic Opportunities

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are highly prevalent in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Their pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial, with protein-calorie malnutrition, systemic inflammation, reduced glycogen stores and hormonal imbalances all well reported. The direct contribution of portal hypertension to these driving factors is however not widely documented in the literature. This review details the specific mechanisms by which portal hypertension directly contributes to the development of malnutrition and sarcopenia in cirrhosis. We summarise the existing literature describing treatment strategies that specifically aim to reduce portal pressures and their impact on nutritional and muscle outcomes, which is particularly relevant to those with end-stage disease awaiting liver transplantation.

Prognostic value of neutrophil count to albumin ratio in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil count to albumin ratio (NAR) in predicting short-term mortality of patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC). A total of 623 DC patients were recruited from a retrospective observational cohort study. They were admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to December 2015. NAR of each patient was calculated and analyzed for the association with 90-day liver transplantation-free (LT-free) outcome. The performance of NAR and the integrated model were tested by a receiver-operator curve (ROC) and C-index. The 90-day LT-free mortality of patients with DC was 10.6%. NAR was significantly higher in 90-day non-survivors than in survivors (The median: 1.73 vs 0.76, P < 0.001). A threshold of 1.40 of NAR differentiated patients with a high risk of death (27.45%) from those with a low risk (5.11%). By multivariate analysis, high NAR was independently associated with poor short-term prognosis (high group: 5.07 (2.78, 9.22)). NAR alone had an area under the ROC curve of 0.794 and C-index of 0.7789 (0.7287, 0.8291) in predicting 90-day mortality. The integrated MELD-NAR (iMELD) model had a higher area under the ROC (0.872) and C-index (0.8558 (0.8122, 0.8994)) than the original MELD in predicting 90-day mortality. NAR can be used as an independent predictor of poor outcomes for patients with DC during short-term follow-up.

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 is a potential predictor of post-liver transplant renal outcomes

Acute kidney injury is considered an independent prognostic factor for mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Non-treated acute kidney injury can progress to hepatorenal syndrome with a poor prognosis. As suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family that aggravates inflammation and fibrotic changes in multiple organs, we measured soluble ST2 (sST2) level in the serum and urine of liver-transplant recipients at the time of transplantation. The serum sST2 level significantly increased in liver-transplant recipients with suppressed kidney function compared with that in recipients with normal function. In recipients with severely decreased liver function (model for end-stage liver disease score ≥ 30), the serum sST2 level was higher than that in recipients with preserved liver function (model for end-stage liver disease score ≤ 20, P = 0.028). The serum sST2 level in recipients with hepatorenal syndrome was higher than that in liver-transplant recipients without hepatorenal syndrome (P = 0.003). The serum sST2 level in patients with hepatorenal syndrome was higher than that in recipients without a history of acute kidney injury (P = 0.004). Recipients with hepatorenal syndrome and recovered kidney function showed higher sST2 levels than those who did not recover (P = 0.034). Collectively, an increase in the serum sST2 level reflects a decrease in both kidney and liver functions. Thus, measuring sST2 level at the time of liver transplantation can help predict renal outcomes.

Rifaximin Improves Liver Functional Reserve by Regulating Systemic Inflammation

Rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, has been demonstrated to be effective against hepatic encephalopathy (HE); however, its efficacy on liver functional reserve remains unknown. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of rifaximin on the liver functional reserve and serological inflammation-based markers in patients with cirrhosis. A retrospective study was conducted on patients who received rifaximin for more than three months at our hospital between November 2016 and October 2021. The recurrence and grade of HE, serological ammonia levels, Child–Pugh score (CPS), and serological inflammation-based markers such as the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte–monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and CRP to albumin ratio (CAR) were evaluated. The correlations between serological inflammation-based markers and liver functional reserve were evaluated. HE grades, serum ammonia levels, and inflammation-based markers significantly improved at three months compared with those at baseline. Patients with improved albumin levels showed significantly higher CRP improvement rates at both 3 and 12 months. Patients with an improvement in CAR at 3 months demonstrated a significant improvement in CPS at 12 months. Rifaximin improved the liver functional reserve in patients with cirrhosis. Improvements in inflammation-based markers, particularly CRP and albumin, may be involved in this process.

Higher levels of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio predict increased mortality risk in patients with liver cirrhosis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Recent studies indicated that the neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) was a predictor of mortality in several diseases. There has been no evidence to prove the predictive function of NPAR in patients with liver cirrhosis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between NPAR and clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively recruited hospitalized decompensated cirrhotic patients from the tertiary grade-A hospital. Patients with malignancy or severe cardiac, respiratory and kidney diseases were excluded. Demographical data, liver functions, complications and outcomes of cirrhosis were recorded. NPAR was calculated through the ratio of neutrophil percentage (%)/serum albumin concentration (g/dL) at admission to the hospital. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate the prognostic values of NPAR, and subgroup analyses were utilized to ensure stable results.

RESULTS

A total of 376 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis at baseline were enrolled. The liver dysfunction, cirrhosis-related complications and mortality rate increased along with the tertiles of NPAR. In multivariate analysis, higher NPARs were independently associated with increased risk of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis after adjustments for confounding factors (tertile 3 versus tertile 1: adjusted HR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.04-3.56; P trend =  0.008) and each unit increase of NPAR implicated a 4% increase risk of mortality. Subgroup analysis demonstrated no significant interactions in most subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Increased NPAR was independently correlated with a higher risk of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Correlation between Cancer Stem Cells, Inflammation and Malignant Transformation in a DEN-Induced Model of Hepatic Carcinogenesis

Chronic inflammation and cancer stem cells are known risk factors for tumorigenesis. The aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves a multistep pathological process that is characterised by chronic inflammation and hepatocyte damage, but the correlation between HCC, inflammation and cancer stem cells remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of hepatic progenitor cells in a mouse model of chemical-induced hepatocarcinogenesis to elucidate the relationship between inflammation, malignant transformation and cancer stem cells. We used diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to induce liver tumour and scored for H&E and reticulin staining. We also scored for immunohistochemistry staining for OV-6 expression and analysed the statistical correlation between them. DEN progressively induced inflammation at week 7 (40%, 2/5); week 27 (75%, 6/8); week 33 (62.5%, 5/8); and week 50 (100%, 12/12). DEN progressively induced malignant transformation at week 7 (0%, 0/5); week 27 (87.5%, 7/8); week 33 (100%, 8/8); and week 50 (100%, 12/12). The obtained data showed that DEN progressively induced high-levels of OV-6 expression at week 7 (20%, 1/5); week 27 (37.5%, 3/8); week 33 (50%, 4/8); and week 50 (100%, 12/12). DEN-induced inflammation, malignant transformation and high-level OV-6 expression in hamster liver, as shown above, as well as applying Spearman’s correlation to the data showed that the expression of OV-6 was significantly correlated to inflammation (p = 0.001) and malignant transformation (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the number of cancer stem cells, inflammation and malignant transformation in a DEN-induced model of hepatic carcinogenesis in the hamster.

Cognitive Function, Sarcopenia, and Inflammation Are Strongly Associated with Frailty: A Framingham Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Frailty is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease. Understanding the contributors to frailty has the potential to identify individuals at risk for frailty and may potentially provide targets for frailty-modifying interventions. We evaluated the relationship among cognitive function, inflammation, and sarcopenia and frailty.

METHODS

Using cohorts from the Framingham Heart Study (2011-2014), we evaluated for factors associated with frailty. Exposures included cognitive tests (combined Trails A/B test, Animal Naming Test, and combined Digit Span Forward/Backward test), inflammation (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor receptor II), and sarcopenia (creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio). We performed linear and logistic regression to identify the relationship between these exposures and the Liver Frailty Index (LFI).

RESULTS

The study population (N = 1208) had a median age of 70 years, was 56% female, and 48.5% had evidence of liver disease. The combined Trails A/B test (β 0.05, P < .001), creatinine-to-cystatin C (β -0.17, P = .006), and both inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 levels (β 0.16, P = .002) and tumor necrosis factor receptor II (β 0.21, P = .04), were independently associated with the LFI. Using an LFI cutoff of ≥4.5 to define frailty, Trails A/B (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.37), Animal Naming Test (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97), sarcopenia (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.73), and interleukin-6 (OR 4.99, 95% CI 1.03-15.53) were all associated with frailty. Although liver disease did not modify the relationship between the LFI and the Trails A/B test, interleukin-6 was significantly associated with the LFI only in the presence of liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive performance, inflammation, and sarcopenia, each highly prevalent in cirrhosis, are associated with the LFI in this population-based study of persons without cirrhosis. Further research is warranted for interventions aiming to prevent frailty by tailoring their approach to the patient's underlying risk factors.

Monitoring Renal Function and Therapy of Hepatorenal Syndrome Patients with Cirrhosis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis can develop AKI due to different causes. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a unique cause of AKI occurring in patients with advanced cirrhosis and is associated with high short-term mortality. The differential diagnosis between different causes of AKI may be challenging. In this regard, new urine biomarkers may be helpful. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment of patients with HRS-AKI. Vasoconstrictors and albumin represent the first-line pharmacologic treatment of HRS-AKI. This review summarizes current knowledge for the diagnosis and management of HRS in cirrhosis.

Association between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio change during living donor liver transplantation and graft survival

Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), has shown a predictive value in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, the change in the NLR during LDLT has not been fully investigated. We aimed to compare graft survival between the NLR increase and decrease during LDLT. From June 1997 to April 2019, we identified 1292 adult LDLT recipients with intraoperative NLR change. The recipients were divided according to NLR change: 103 (8.0%) in the decrease group and 1189 (92.0%) in the increase group. The primary outcome was graft failure in the first year. In addition, variables associated with NLR change during LDLT were evaluated. During 1-year follow-up, graft failure was significantly higher in the decrease group (22.3% vs. 9.1%; hazard ratio 1.87; 95% confidence interval 1.10-3.18; p = 0.02), but postoperative complications did not differ between two groups. This finding was consistent for the overall follow-up. Variables associated with NLR decrease included preoperative NLR > 4, model for end-stage liver disease score, intraoperative inotropic infusion and red blood cell transfusion, and operative duration. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model yielded similar results. NLR decrease during LDLT appeared to be independently associated with graft survival. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Albumin: New Serum Biomarkers to Predict the Prognosis of Male Alcoholic Cirrhosis Patients

Background and Aims

Alcohol-associated liver disease is exhibiting an increasing disease burden. In terms of pathogenesis, inflammation is closely related to alcohol-induced liver injury. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel inflammatory biomarker. Here, we aim to evaluate the role of the NLR and other biomarkers in predicting short-term mortality in alcoholic cirrhotic patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study that included 459 male alcoholic cirrhosis patients. Among them, 345 patients completed follow-up. Based on their 30-day mortality information, patients were separated into surviving and nonsurviving groups. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical features were collected for further analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with short-term mortality, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to establish the predictive value of these factors.

Results

The prognostic scores were significantly higher in the nonsurviving group than in the surviving group: NLR: 5.5 vs. 3.2 (P < 0.001), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD): 15.4 vs. 7.9 (P < 0.001), Maddrey's discriminant function (MDF): 39.8 vs. 12.7 (P < 0.001), and the integrated MELD (i-MELD): 37.9 vs. 28.4 (P < 0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that albumin (ALB), NLR, and i-MELD values were significantly correlated with patient death in 30 days. On ROC analysis, the diagnostic accuracy for 30-day mortality of the NLR (area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.72, P < 0.001) was similar to that of the MELD or i-MELD (AUROCs of 0.71 and 0.74, respectively, P < 0.001). The new biomarker, NLA, calculated as 100 × NLR/ALB, had the best prognostic value. The cutoff values of the NLR and NLA for predicting 30-day mortality were 4.2 and 19.6, respectively.

Conclusions

The NLR and its related biomarker NLA are simple and robust predictors of 30-day mortality in alcoholic cirrhosis patients.

Organ System Network Disruption Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Chronic Liver Failure

BACKGROUND

A healthy individual has a high degree of functional connectivity between organ systems, which can be represented graphically in a network map. Disruption of this system connectivity is associated with mortality in life-threatening acute illnesses, demonstrated by a network approach. However, this approach has not been applied to chronic multisystem diseases and may be more reliable than conventional individual organ prognostic scoring methods. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver with multisystem involvement. Development of an efficient model for prediction of mortality in cirrhosis requires a profound understanding of the pathophysiologic processes that lead to poor prognosis. In the present study, we use a network approach to evaluate the differences in organ system connectivity between survivors and non-survivors in a group of well-characterized patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

201 patients with cirrhosis originally referred to the Clinic five at the University Hospital of Padova, with 13 clinical variables available representing hepatic, metabolic, haematopoietic, immune, neural and renal organ systems were retrospectively enrolled and followed up for 3, 6, and 12 months. Software was designed to compute the correlation network maps of organ system interaction in survivors and non-survivors using analysis indices: A. Bonferroni corrected Pearson's correlation coefficient and B. Mutual Information. Network structure was quantitatively evaluated using the measures of edges, average degree of connectivity and closeness, and qualitatively using clinical significance. Pair-matching was also implemented as a further step after initial general analysis to control for sample size and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD-Na) score between the groups.

RESULTS

There was a higher number of significant correlations in survivors, as indicated by both the analysis indices of Bonferroni corrected Pearson's correlation coefficient and the Mutual Information analysis. The number of edges, average degree of connectivity and closeness were significantly higher in survivors compared to non-survivors group. Pair-matching for MELD-Na was also associated with increased connectivity in survivors compared to non-survivors over 3 and 6 months follow up.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the application of a network approach in evaluating functional connectivity of organ systems in liver cirrhosis, demonstrating a significant degree of network disruption in organ systems in non-survivors. Network analysis of organ systems may provide insight in developing novel prognostic models for organ allocation in patients with cirrhosis.

Preclinical Evidence of Curcuma longa and Its Noncurcuminoid Constituents against Hepatobiliary Diseases: A Review

Hepatobiliary disease currently serves as an important public health issue due to the fact that it is one of the major causes of death among economically active individuals and can easily progress to chronic diseases. Despite the development of vaccines and numerous drugs, a definite treatment remains lacking owing to different stages of the disease itself, its intricate pathogenesis, an effect uncertainty for long-term use, resistance, and side effects. Curcuma longa (C. longa), which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and the genus Curcuma, has long been used not only as spice for curry or dye but also as a constituent of herbal formula for the treatment of different diseases due to its bioactive activities. Recently, many studies on the experimental results of C. longa have been published relative to hepatobiliary diseases such as fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and tumors. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to summarize the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. longa and its four compounds, β-elemene, germacrone, ar-turmerone, and bisacurone, against hepatobiliary diseases. C. longa exhibited antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antisteatotic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antitumor, and cholagogic effects by regulating apoptosis, CYP2E1, Nrf, lipid metabolism-related factors, TGF-β, NF-κB, CYP7A1, and so on. In particular, β-elemene could be an attractive compound owing to its remarkable hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antitumor activities. Altogether, the present review provides a preclinical basis for the efficacy of C. longa as an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, despite the need for further studies to establish the extraction conditions and separation of active constituents with high bioavailability, and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.

Osteoporosis in cirrhotics before and after liver transplantation: relation with malnutrition and inflammatory status

Background: Liver cirrhosis is associated with osteoporosis and liver transplantation (LT) with increased bone loss. This study aimed to in LT candidates investigate the potential relation between bone mineral density (BMD) and BMD loss in those who undergo LT, with malnutrition, systemic inflammation, and hormonal status.Methods: We included 102 consecutively recruited cirrhotic LT candidates between May 2004 and April 2007. BMD was assessed by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Malnutrition was defined by means of anthropometry and assessment of recent weight loss. In 75/102 patients, serum-thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodthyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (T4) and growth hormone (GH), cortisol, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was assessed. Overall 57/102 patients received a LT and 47/102 were followed for one year post-LT. At follow-up, nutritional status and BMD were assessed in all patients (n = 47) while 34/47 had available blood samples for analysis.Results: Forty (40%) LT- candidates had osteopenia or osteoporosis and 34 (38%) were malnourished. Malnutrition was associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis (odds ratio: 3.5, 95% CI 1.4, 9.9). Hip BMD Z-score decreased -0.25 (95% CI -0.41, -0.09) from baseline to one year post-LT. High baseline TNF-α correlated with a more marked decline in BMD (Partial correlation (r) = -0.47, p < .05) as did high baseline cortisol levels (r = -0.49, p < .05).Conclusion: Malnutrition in liver cirrhosis seems to be associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis, and systemic inflammation (higher TNF-α) and systemic stress (higher cortisol) to bone loss in patients who undergo LT.

Characterization of inflammatory response in hepatorenal syndrome: Relationship with kidney outcome and survival

BACKGROUND

Several lines of evidence indicate that decompensated cirrhosis is characterized by the presence of systemic inflammation. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI) is a unique type of renal failure that occurs at late stages of cirrhosis. However, confirmation of the presence and significance of such inflammatory response in HRS-AKI is lacking.

AIM AND METHODS

To characterize the systemic inflammatory response, as estimated by measuring a large number of cytokines, in 161 patients hospitalized for an acute decompensation of cirrhosis: 44 patients without acute kidney injury (AKI), 63 patients with hypovolaemia-induced AKI and 58 patients with HRS-AKI.

RESULTS

HRS-AKI was characterized by an altered cytokine profile compared to the other two groups, particularly IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, VCAM-1, fractalkine and MIP-1α. The inflammatory response was not related to presence of bacterial infection, concomitant acute-on-chronic liver failure or severity of renal dysfunction. Patients who responded to terlipressin and albumin had only a decrease in TNF-α and RANTES after treatment without changes in other cytokines. Interestingly, patients with persistent HRS-AKI had higher levels of IP-10 and VCAM-1 compared to those with resolution of HRS-AKI. VCAM-1 was also an independent predictor of 3-month mortality. A systems biology analysis approach showed that the inflammatory status of HRS-AKI was similar to that of chronic nonhepatic inflammatory conditions, such as lupus erythematosus or inflammatory bowel disease.

CONCLUSION

Hepatorenal syndrome is characterized by a marked systemic inflammatory state, reminiscent of that of nonhepatic inflammatory diseases, that correlates with patient outcomes.

An update on the pathogenesis and clinical management of cirrhosis with refractory ascites

Ascites commonly complicates cirrhosis, becoming refractory to treatment with diuretics and sodium restriction in approximately 10% of patients. Pathogenesis of refractory ascites (RA) is multifactorial, the common final pathway being renal hypoperfusion and avid sodium retention. Refractory ascites has a negative prognostic implication in the natural history of cirrhosis. Management of RA include sodium restriction and regular large volume paracentesis (LVP) with albumin infusions, preventing paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction. In appropriate setting, transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) can be considered. Ascites clearance with TIPS can lead to nutritional improvement, avoiding sarcopenia. Liver transplantation (LT) remains the definitive treatment for eligible candidates. Areas covered: Our review summarizes current updates on pathogenesis and clinical management of RA including potential future therapeutic options such as the automated slow-flow ascites pump, chronic outpatient albumin infusion and cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy. Expert commentary: Standard of care in patients with RA include LVP with albumin replacement and prompt referral for LT where indicated. Other novel therapeutic options on the horizon include automated low-flow ascites pump and cell-free, concentrated albumin reinfusion therapy.

Hepatorenal syndrome in the era of acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of patients with advanced cirrhosis that it is associated with increased hospital admissions and decreased survival. The definition of AKI in cirrhosis has been recently modified and the new diagnostic criteria are based on small changes in serum creatinine with respect to previous values, occurring within a short period of time. The use of this new definition may lead to an earlier identification of renal impairment and better prognostic stratification. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a unique form of AKI developing in patients with end-stage liver disease. Systemic circulatory dysfunction and marked kidney vasoconstriction play a key role in the development of HRS. The modification of the definition of AKI has also led to a change in the diagnostic criteria of HRS. The new diagnostic criteria are based on AKI stages and there is no need to reach a specific serum creatinine threshold. According to these new criteria, treatment with vasoconstrictors and albumin for the management of HRS will be started at lower serum creatinine values, with expected higher response rates. Finally, there are consistent data showing that some urine biomarkers, particularly NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), may be useful in daily clinical practice for the differential diagnosis of the cause of AKI in cirrhosis.

Carcinogenesis on the background of liver fibrosis: Implications for the management of hepatocellular cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is now the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally and many patients have incurable disease. HCC predominantly occurs in the setting of liver cirrhosis and is a paradigm for inflammation-induced cancer. The causes of chronic liver disease promote the development of transformed or premalignant hepatocytes and predisposes to the development of HCC. For HCC to grow and progress it is now clear that it requires an immunosuppressive niche within the fibrogenic microenvironment of cirrhosis. The rationale for targeting this immunosuppression is supported by responses seen in recent trials with checkpoint inhibitors. With the impact of immunotherapy, HCC progression may be delayed and long term durable responses may be seen. This makes the management of the underlying liver cirrhosis in HCC even more crucial as studies demonstrate that measures of liver function are a major prognostic factor in HCC. In this review, we discuss the development of cancer in the setting of liver inflammation and fibrosis, reviewing the microenvironment that leads to this tumourigenic climate and the implications this has for patient management.

Prognostic significance of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in liver cirrhosis

Several polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are associated with the occurrence of chronic liver disease. Here, we investigated the association between BsmI, ApaI, TaqI and FokI VDR polymorphisms and the severity of liver cirrhosis in relation to serum cytokine and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels and their role on survival in cirrhotic patients. We found that patients harboring the BB genotype had higher MELD score, and they were mainly at CP stage C; patients harboring the AA genotype had increased LBP, IL-1β and IL-8 levels, and they were mostly at CP stage C; TT genotype carriers had higher MELD score and they were mainly at CP stage C and FF genotype carriers had lower IL-1β levels when compared to Bb/bb, Aa/aa, Tt/tt and Ff/ff genotypes respectively. In the multivariate analysis ApaI, BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms were independently associated with liver cirrhosis severity. In the survival analysis, the independent prognostic factors were CP score, MELD and the FF genotype. Our results indicate that the ApaI, TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms are associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis, through the immunoregulatory process. Survival is related to the FF genotype of FokI polymorphism, imparting a possible protective role in liver cirrhosis.

Possible Synergistic Effects of Glutathione and C-Reactive Protein in the Progression of Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is often associated with increased inflammatory responses and changes of glutathione (GSH) status. The possible interactions between these two factors in mediating damages of liver function remain unclear. Here, we measured the inflammatory responses and GSH status in liver cirrhotic patients and compared them with healthy subjects. In addition, we assessed the relationship of the GSH status and levels of inflammatory markers with the severity of the disease. This was a cross-sectional study. In total, we recruited 63 liver cirrhotic patients with Child⁻Turcotte⁻Pugh class A scores, and 12 patients with class B⁻C scores, together with 110 healthy subjects. Patients with class B⁻C scores showed the highest level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) when compared with class A patients or healthy subjects. Patients in class A group had significantly higher GSH levels when compared with class B⁻C group or healthy subjects. After adjusting for potential confounders and each other, serum hs-CRP levels showed positive association with the Child⁻Turcotte⁻Pugh scores, while GSH levels showed negative association with Child⁻Turcotte⁻Pugh scores. Interactions were found between levels of plasma GSH and serum hs-CRP (β = 0.004, p = 0.016). CRP and GSH levels, which had showed interactions, were associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2-catalysed H3K27 trimethylation plays a key role in acute-on-chronic liver failure via TNF-mediated pathway

Acute-on-chronic liver failure is mainly due to host immunity self-destruction. The histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylating enzyme, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) mediates epigenetic silencing of gene expression and regulates immunity, also involves pathogenesis of several liver diseases. The current study was to determine the role of methyltransferase EZH2 and its catalysed H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in liver failure, and to further investigate the potential target for liver failure treatment. EZH2 and its catalysed H3K27me3 were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from liver failure patients and Kupffer cells from experimental mice. Furthermore, GSK126 (an inhibitor for EZH2 trimethylation function) was applied in liver failure mice in vivo, and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mononuclear cells in vitro. EZH2 and H3K27me3 were significantly upregulated in human PBMC from liver failure patients or murine Kupffer cells from the liver failure animals, respectively. GSK126 ameliorated disease severity in liver failure mice, which maybe attribute to down-regulate circulating and hepatic proinflammatory cytokines, especially TNF via reducing H3K27me3. In-depth chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis unravelled that decreased enrichment of H3K27me3 on Tnf promotor, resulting in TNF elevation in Kupffer cells from liver failure mice. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathways were activated upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation, but attenuated by using GSK126, accompanied with decreased TNF in vitro. In conclusion, EZH2 and H3K27me3 contributed to the pathogenesis of liver failure via triggering TNF and other indispensable proinflammatory cytokines. EZH2 was to modify H3K27me3 enrichment, as well as, activation of the downstream NF-κB and Akt signalling pathways.

The role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for the assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis: a systematic review

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is widely used to assess inflammatory diseases. We performed a systematic review to explore the prognostic role of NLR for the assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Areas covered: We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for the eligible papers which explored the association between NLR and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis or investigated the prognostic value of NLR in cirrhotic patients. Expert commentary: In accordance with assessment of liver fibrosis stage, we classified papers into four subgroups by etiology. For the patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) there was a significant association between NLR and fibrosis stage and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS), while NLR had a negative correlation with fibrosis stage for the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). As for the patients with and chronic hepatitis C (CHC), NLR might not be significantly associated with fibrosis stage. Moreover, NLR seemed to be significantly useful for predicting outcomes in cirrhotic patients. Hence, NLR might be associated with liver fibrosis stage, especially in patients with NAFLD. Furthermore, NLR might be a useful biomarker for evaluating the prognosis in cirrhotic patients.

Prediction of acute kidney injury in cirrhotic patients: a new score combining renal, liver and inflammatory markers

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and is associated with poor prognosis. A risk prediction score combining values easily measured at admission could be valuable to stratify patients for prevention, monitoring and early intervention, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a risk score for AKI in a cohort of cirrhotic patients.

Patients and methods

We cross-examined the data from a retrospective analysis of 186 patients with cirrhosis admitted to the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service of Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte from January 2003 to December 2005. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr)≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours or a percentage increase in SCr≥50% from baseline. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was used as a marker for inflammation. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was produced to assess the discriminative ability of the variables. Cutoff values were defined as those with highest validity. The final AKI risk score model was assessed using the ROC curve.

Results

A total of 52 patients (28%) developed AKI. Higher baseline SCr (p<0.001), more severe liver disease as evaluated by the modified Model of End-stage Liver Disease (MELD)-Na score (p<0.001) and higher NLR (p=0.028) were independently associated with AKI. The area under the ROC (AUROC) curve for the prediction of AKI was 0.791 (95% CI 0.726–0.847) for SCr, 0.771 (95% CI 0.704–0.829) for modified MELD-Na and 0.757 (95% CI 0.689–0.817) for NLR. Cutoff values with the highest validity for predicting AKI were determined and defined as 0.9 for the SCr, 21.7 for the modified MELD-Na and 6 for the NLR. The risk score was created allowing 3 points if the SCr is higher than 0.9, 1 point if the modified MELD-Na is higher than 21.7 and 1 point if the NLR is higher than 6. The AUROC curve of the risk prediction score for AKI was 0.861. A risk score of ≥2 points predicts AKI in cirrhotic patients with a sensitivity of 88.5% and specificity of 72.4%.

Conclusion

A new score combining SCr, MELD-Na and NLR demonstrated a strong discriminative ability to predict AKI in cirrhotic patients.

Review article: the role of the microcirculation in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic microvascular derangements and microcirculatory dysfunction are key in the development of liver cirrhosis and its associated complications. While much has been documented relating to cirrhosis and the dysfunction of the microcirculation in the liver parenchyma, far less is known about the state of the extrahepatic microcirculation and the role this may have in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure in end stage liver cirrhosis.

AIM

To provide an update on the role of the microcirculation in the pathophysiology of cirrhosis and its associated complications and briefly discuss some of the imaging techniques which may be used to directly investigate the microcirculation.

METHODS

A Medline literature search was conducted using the following search terms: 'cirrhosis', 'microcirculation', 'circulation', 'systemic', 'inflammation', 'peripheral', 'hepatorenal' and 'hepatopulmonary'.

RESULTS

Significant heterogeneous microvascular alterations exist in patients with cirrhosis. Data suggest that the systemic inflammation, associated with advanced cirrhosis, induces microcirculatory dysregulation and contributes to haemodynamic derangement. The resultant vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion in the systemic extrahepatic microvasculature, is likely to be instrumental in the pathophysiology of organ failure in decompensated cirrhosis, however the mechanistic action of vasoactive agents used to correct the circulatory disturbance of advanced cirrhosis is poorly understood.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research into the role of the microcirculation in patients with liver cirrhosis, will improve physicians understanding of the pathophysiology of cirrhosis, and may provide a platform for real time evaluation of an individual's microcirculatory response to vasoactive mediators, thus guiding their therapy.

Adipokines in Liver Cirrhosis

Liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis, which is considered a serious disease. The Child-Pugh score and the model of end-stage liver disease score have been established to assess residual liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis. The development of portal hypertension contributes to ascites, variceal bleeding and further complications in these patients. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used to lower portal pressure, which represents a major improvement in the treatment of patients. Adipokines are proteins released from adipose tissue and modulate hepatic fibrogenesis. These proteins affect various biological processes that are involved in liver function, including angiogenesis, vasodilation, inflammation and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. The best studied adipokines are adiponectin and leptin. Adiponectin protects against hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis, and leptin functions as a profibrogenic factor. These and other adipokines are supposed to modulate disease severity in patients with liver cirrhosis. Consequently, circulating levels of these proteins have been analyzed to identify associations with parameters of hepatic function, portal hypertension and its associated complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. This review article briefly addresses the role of adipokines in hepatitis and liver fibrosis. Here, studies having analyzed these proteins in systemic blood in cirrhotic patients are listed to identify adipokines that are comparably changed in the different cohorts of patients with liver cirrhosis. Some studies measured these proteins in systemic, hepatic and portal vein blood or after TIPS to specify the tissues contributing to circulating levels of these proteins and the effect of portal hypertension, respectively.

A nomogram for predicting prognostic value of inflammatory response biomarkers in decompensated cirrhotic patients without acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays a vital role in liver cirrhosis progression and prognosis.

AIM

To investigate the prognostic significance of inflammatory response markers in decompensated cirrhotic patients without acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

METHODS

Independent predictors were identified using multivariate Cox model and then assembled into a nomogram to predict survival. Concordance index (C-index) and time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (td-ROC) analysis were adopted to evaluate and compare the performance of nomogram, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, MELD-Na and Chronic Liver Failure-consortium score for acute decompensated (CLIF-C ADs).

RESULTS

A total of 902 decompensated cirrhotic patients with different aetiologies were enrolled, with 6-month, 1-year and 3-year mortality of 18.6%, 24.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The cut-off values for neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) determined by X-tile program were 5.7 and 1.1 respectively. Patients with NLR>5.7 or LMR≤1.1 had significantly higher mortality (P < 0.001). Independent factors derived from multivariable Cox analysis of development cohort to predict mortality were age, NLR and LMR (hazard ratio (HR): 1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045-1.084, P < 0.001; HR: 1.124, 95%CI: 1.091-1.158, P < 0.001; HR: 0.794, 95%CI: 0.702-0.898, P < 0.001, respectively). The C-indexes of nomogram were higher than that of MELD score, MELD-Na and CLIF-C ADs for predicting survival. The tdROC and decision curves showed that nomogram was superior to MELD score, MELD-Na and CLIF-C ADs. Similar results were observed in validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

The proposed nomogram with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio resulted in accurate prognostic prediction for decompensated cirrhotic patients without ACLF.

Terlipressin Improves Renal Function and Reverses Hepatorenal Syndrome in Patients With Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) along with decompensated cirrhosis and renal dysfunction have a poor prognosis and a lower response to treatment. We evaluated the effect of SIRS on the response of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-1) to terlipressin.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of data from a trial of the effects of terlipressin (1 mg every 6 hours or placebo with concomitant albumin) in 198 patients with HRS-1, performed at 50 investigational sites in the United States and 2 in Canada from October 2010 through February 2013. We identified patients with 2 or more criteria for SIRS, without untreated infections (28 received terlipressin and 30 received placebo), and patients with less than 2 criteria for SIRS (control subjects). Primary endpoints included HRS reversal (a decrease in serum level of creatinine to ≤1.5 mg/dL), confirmed HRS reversal (defined as 2 serum creatinine levels ≤1.5 mg/dL, ≥ 48 hours apart), and survival for 90 days after treatment.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, apart from slightly higher white blood cell counts and heart rates, and slightly lower serum levels of bicarbonate in patients with SIRS versus without SIRS. HRS was reversed in 42.9% of patients who received terlipressin with SIRS (12/28) versus 6.7% of patients who received placebo (2/30) (P = .0018); confirmed HRS reversal occurred in 32.1% of patients who received terlipressin with SIRS (9/28) versus 3.3% who received placebo (1/30) (P = .0048). A larger proportion of patients with SIRS who received terlipressin survived for 90 days without a transplant (13/28; 46.4%) than patients with SIRS who received placebo (7/30; 23.3%) (P = .076).

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of data from a placebo-controlled study, we found that terlipressin improved renal function and reversed HRS in a higher proportion of patients with HRS-1 and SIRS than patients who received albumin plus placebo. ClincialTrials.gov, number NCT 01143246.

Characterization of Inflammatory Response in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure and Relationship with Prognosis

ACLF is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response, but the cytokines involved in this process have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to characterize the systemic inflammatory response in patients with cirrhosis and ACLF and its relationship with prognosis. Fifty-five patients with cirrhosis, 26 with ACLF, were studied prospectively. Systemic inflammatory response was analyzed by measuring a large array of plasma cytokines by using a multiplex kit. A principal component analysis show noticeable differences between ACLF and decompensated cirrhosis without ACLF. Patients with ACLF had significant abnormal levels of 12 cytokines compared to those without ACLF, including: VCAM-1, VEGF-A, Fractalkine, MIP-1α, Eotaxin, IP-10, RANTES, GM-CSF, IL-1β, IL-2, ICAM-1, and MCP-1. Cytokines showing the most marked relationship with ACLF were VCAM-1 and VEGF-A (AUCROC 0.77; p = 0.001). There was a significant relationship between some of inflammatory mediators and 3-month mortality, particularly VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and GM-CSF (AUCROC>0.7; p < 0.05). Functional Enrichment Analysis showed that inflammatory markers differentially expressed in ACLF patients were enriched in leukocyte migration, particularly monocytes and macrophages, and chemotaxis pathways. In conclusion, ACLF is characterized by a marked inflammatory reaction with activation of mediators of adhesion and migration of leukocytes. The intensity of the inflammatory reaction correlates with prognosis.

Soluble Adhesion Molecules in Patients Coinfected with HIV and HCV: A Predictor of Outcome

BACKGROUND

Higher serum levels of adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) are associated with advanced liver fibrosis in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus. We assessed the relationship between serum levels of adhesion molecules and liver-related events (LRE) or death, in coinfected patients.

METHODS

We studied clinical characteristics and outcomes of 182 coinfected patients with a baseline liver biopsy (58 with advanced fibrosis) and simultaneous plasma samples who were followed for median of 9 years. We used receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves to calculate optimized cutoff values (OCV) of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, defined as the values with the highest combination of sensitivity and specificity for LRE. We used multivariate regression analysis to test the association between OCVs of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and outcomes. The variables for adjustment were age, HIV transmission category, liver fibrosis, baseline CD4+ T-cell counts, antiretroviral therapy, and sustained virologic response (SVR).

RESULTS

During the study period 51 patients had SVR, 19 had LRE, and 16 died. The OCVs for LRE were 5.68 Log pg/mL for sICAM-1 and 6.25 Log pg/mL for sVCAM-1, respectively. The adjusted subhazard ratio (aSHR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of death or LRE, whichever occurred first, for sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 > OCV were 3.98 ([1.14; 13.89], P = 0.030) and 2.81 ([1.10; 7.19], respectively (P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 can serve as markers of outcome in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Therapies targeting necroinflammatory damage and fibrogenesis may have a role in the management chronic hepatitis C.

Ischaemia-modified albumin: a marker of bacterial infection in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with cirrhosis present structural changes of human serum albumin (HSA) affecting non-oncotic functions. Ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA), which reflects the capacity to bind cobalt, has been associated to patient mortality during acute-on-chronic liver failure. This study aimed to assess whether circulating IMA is elevated in advanced cirrhosis and its relationship with severity of cirrhosis and specific complications.

METHODS

A total of 127 cirrhotic patients hospitalized for an acute complication of the disease and 44 healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma IMA and IMA to albumin ratio (IMAr) were measured with a cobalt-binding assay. HSA isoforms carrying post-transcriptional molecular changes were assessed with HPLC-ESI-MS. The effect of endotoxemia on IMA was evaluated in rats with CCl4 -cirrhosis.

RESULTS

IMA/IMAr is significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in controls, but no correlations were found with prognostic scores. IMA did not correlate with the altered HSA isoforms. Ascites, renal impairment and hepatic encephalopathy did not influence IMA/IMAr levels. In contrast, IMA/IMAr is significantly higher in infected than non-infected patients. ROC curves showed that IMA/IMAr had similar discriminating performances for bacterial infection as C-reactive protein (CRP). Moreover, CRP and IMA were independently associated with bacterial infection. Consistently, endotoxin injection significantly increased IMA in cirrhotic, but not in healthy rats.

CONCLUSIONS

IMA is elevated in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The IMA level does not correlate with disease severity scores, but it is specifically associated to bacterial infection, showing a discriminating performance similar to CRP. Further investigations to assess IMA as a novel diagnostic test for bacterial infection are advocated.

The usefulness of C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for predicting the outcome in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The role of clinical parameters such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria in predicting the infection remains unclear in cirrhosis patients. The aim was to evaluate the usefulness of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for diagnosis of infection and predicting the outcomes in hospitalized cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

The study included 184 cirrhotic patients consecutively hospitalized from 2011 to 2012. The presence of overt infection and survival was evaluated. CRP concentration, NLR, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and the presence of SIRS were assessed.

RESULTS

The main cause of admission was uncontrolled ascites (36.4 %), followed by varix bleeding (23.9 %), and hepatic encephalopathy (13.6 %). Fifty-eight patients (31.5 %) had overt infection during hospitalization and thirty-two patients (17.4 %) expired during the follow up period (median 38 months). Ninety-two patients (52.2 %) fulfilled the SIRS criteria and among them, only 32 patients (38.5 %) had the overt infection. For diagnose of the infection, baseline CRP concentration was a significant factor compared to the presence of SIRS (odds ratio 1.202, P = 0.003). For predicting one-month short-term survival, MELD score, NLR and WBC count were significant factors but in Child-Pugh class C patients, NLR was only an independent factor.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP was a significant indicator of infection in hospitalized cirrhotic patients and a NLR was a useful predictor of 1-month survival, particularly in Child-Pugh class C patients. This study suggests that the inflammatory markers such as CRP and NLR can help identify cirrhotic patients at risk of unfavorable outcomes.

Decreased Tim-3 expression is associated with functional abnormalities of monocytes in decompensated cirrhosis without overt bacterial infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with advanced cirrhosis usually exhibit altered monocyte function. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the functional changes of monocytes are poorly understood.

METHODS

We investigated the role of T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) in regulating monocyte function in 94 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DC-LC) (decompensation was defined by ascites, hepatic encephalopathy or upper gastrointestinal bleeding), 58 with compensated liver cirrhosis (C-LC) and 52 healthy controls (HC) by characterizing the frequency of Tim-3(+) monocytes, their phagocytosis capacity, HLA-DR expression, cytokine secretion and MAP kinase activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

RESULTS

Tim-3 expression on CD14(+) monocytes in DC-LC group were significantly lower than that in C-LC and HC and were associated with increased levels of plasma endotoxin, enhanced cytokine production, decreased phagocytic capacity, and reduced HLA-DR expression. Tim-3 expression on monocytes and monocyte function did not differ between C-LC and HC group. Tim-3(+)CD14(+) cells had more potent phagocytic capacity, higher levels of HLA-DR, CD86, CD80, CD163, and CD206 expression, but lower levels of CD1a and CD83, related to that of Tim-3(-)CD14(+) monocytes. In addition, Tim-3(+)CD14(+) cells produced less TNF-α but higher levels of IL-10 in response to LPS. Treatment with anti-Tim-3 antibody significantly reduced phagocytic capacity, but enhanced LPS-stimulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 secretion. Furthermore, blocking Tim-3 signaling increased p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation in monocytes upon LPS stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Downregulation of Tim-3 expression was associated with endotoxemia and functional alterations of monocytes in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Liver Failure Impairs the Intrahepatic Elimination of Interleukin-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta

The strategic location of the liver and its metabolic activity make it a key organ regulating homeostasis. Our purpose was to examine its participation in removal of cytokines: interleukin-6 (Il-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) from the portal circulation in human. 20 liver donors and 20 patients with end-stage liver failure were included in the study. Their blood was collected during liver transplantation from the portal, hepatic, and peripheral vein, and the hepatic artery and cytokines' concentrations were determined. Using the results the mathematical model of cytokine elimination by the liver was developed. In donors significantly lower levels of IL-6, TNF-α, HGF, and TGF-β were detected in portal blood compared to hepatic vein. In patients with cirrhosis there were no significant differences of IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β levels between portal and hepatic veins. Significantly higher level of HGF in hepatic compared to portal vein was observed. In healthy liver elimination of the cytokines prevailed over their synthesis, as reflected by the positive values of the elimination ratios. In the cirrhotic liver elimination ratios of Il-6, HGF, and TGF-β were negative indicating the prevalence of intrahepatic synthesis of cytokines over their removal.

Factors associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with liver cirrhosis

INTRODUCTION

Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have been observed in cirrhotic patients and have been related to disease severity. However, most previous studies included patients with very advanced disease, lacking an adequate control for other variables that could interfere with vitamin D levels. We sought to investigate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and the factors related to its occurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 133 cirrhotic patients and 30 healthy controls. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine factors associated with 25(OH)D levels below the lower tertile. Thirty patients who had been recently hospitalized were compared in two time points.

RESULTS

Mean 25(OH)D levels were 32.34 ± 11.38 in controls and 27.03 ± 6.22 ng/mL in patients (P = 0.018). 25(OH)D levels were < 30 ng/mL in 69.9% and < 20 ng/mL in 14.3% of the sample. Levels of 25(OH)D below the lower tertile (< 24 ng/mL) were independently associated with higher triceps skinfold and non-Caucasian race. Parathyroid hormone above the reference value (65 pg/mL) was found in 24.6% of patients without association with 25(OH)D or severity of liver disease. Significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D were found at the time of acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, hypovitaminosis D was prevalent in cirrhotics and it was associated with adiposity and non-Caucasian race in stable patients with relatively well preserved liver function. However, significantly lower levels were observed during admission for acute decompensation suggesting an impact of systemic inflammation or liver dysfunction on 25(OH)D levels.

Absent in melanoma 2 triggers a heightened inflammasome response in ascitic fluid macrophages of patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Inflammation is a common event in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. The inflammasome pathway has acquired significant relevance in the pathogenesis of inflammation, but its role in the inflammatory response in patients with decompensated cirrhosis remains unexplored.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study in which 44 patients with decompensated cirrhosis and 12 healthy volunteers were included. We isolated macrophages from blood and ascitic fluid and assessed the expression and activation of the inflammasome, its response to priming by bacterial products, and its association with the degree of liver disease.

RESULTS

Macrophages from sterile ascitic fluids showed constitutive activation of caspase-1 and a marked increase in the expression of IL-1β, IL-18, and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) when compared to blood macrophages. Pre-stimulation of blood-derived macrophages from cirrhotic patients with bacterial DNA increased the expression of AIM2 and induced a higher AIM2-mediated inflammasome response than priming with other bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide. By contrast, activation of the AIM2 inflammasome did not require a priming signal in ascitic fluid-derived macrophages, demonstrating the preactivated state of the inflammasome in these cells. Last, higher IL-1β and IL-18 production by ascitic fluid macrophages correlated with a more advanced Child-Pugh score.

CONCLUSIONS

The inflammasome is highly activated in the ascitic fluid of cirrhotic patients, which may explain the exacerbated inflammatory response observed in these patients under non-infected conditions. Clinically, activation of the inflammasome is associated with a higher degree of liver disease.

Posttranscriptional changes of serum albumin: clinical and prognostic significance in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis

Beside the regulation of fluid distribution, human serum albumin (HSA) carries other activities, such as binding, transport, and detoxification of many molecules. In patients with cirrhosis, HSA exhibits posttranscriptional alterations that likely affect its functions. This study aimed at identifying the structural HSA alterations occurring in cirrhosis and determining their relationship with specific clinical complications and patient survival. One hundred sixty-eight patients with cirrhosis, 35 with stable conditions and 133 hospitalized for acute clinical complications, and 94 healthy controls were enrolled. Posttranscriptional HSA molecular changes were identified and quantified by using a high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry technique. Clinical and biochemical parameters were also recorded and hospitalized patients were followed for up to 1 year. Seven HSA isoforms carrying one or more posttranscriptional changes were identified. Altered HSA isoforms were significantly more represented in patients than in healthy controls. Conversely, the native, unchanged HSA isoform was significantly reduced in cirrhosis. Native HSA and most altered isoforms correlated with both Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores. In hospitalized patients, oxidized and N-terminal truncated isoforms were independently associated with ascites, renal impairment, and bacterial infection. Finally, the native HSA and cysteinylated/N-terminal truncated isoforms were predictors of 1-year survival, with greater prognostic accuracy than total serum albumin concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive posttranscriptional changes of HSA, involving several molecular sites and increasing in parallel with disease severity, occur in patients with cirrhosis. Altered isoforms are independently associated with specific clinical complications, whereas the residual, native HSA isoform independently predicts patient survival. These findings support the concept of the "effective albumin concentration," which implies that the global HSA function is related not only to its serum concentration, but also to the preservation of its structural integrity.

Cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction: distinctive features and clinical relevance

The term cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction refers to the main syndromic abnormalities of immune function, immunodeficiency and systemic inflammation that are present in cirrhosis. The course of advanced cirrhosis, regardless of its aetiology, is complicated by cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction and this constitutes the pathophysiological hallmark of an increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, distinctive of the disease. Cirrhosis impairs the homeostatic role of the liver in the systemic immune response. Damage to the reticulo-endothelial system compromises the immune surveillance function of the organ and the reduced hepatic synthesis of proteins, involved in innate immunity and pattern recognition, hinders the bactericidal ability of phagocytic cells. Systemic inflammation, in form of activated circulating immune cells and increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, is the result of persistent episodic activation of circulating immune cells from damage-associated molecular patterns, released from necrotic liver cells and, as cirrhosis progresses, from pathogen-associated molecular patterns, released from the leaky gut. Cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction phenotypes switch from predominantly "pro-inflammatory" to predominantly "immunodeficient" in patients with stable ascitic cirrhosis and in patients with severely decompensated cirrhosis and extra-hepatic organ failure (e.g. acute-on-chronic liver failure), respectively. These cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction phenotypes represent the extremes of a spectrum of reversible dynamic events that take place during the course of cirrhosis. Systemic inflammation can affect the functions of tissue somatic cells and modify the clinical manifestation of cirrhosis. The best characterized example is the contribution of systemic inflammation to the haemodynamic derangement of cirrhosis, which correlates negatively with prognosis.

Post-paracentesis circulatory derangements are related to monocyte activation

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Post-paracentesis circulatory dysfunction is associated with development of hepatorenal syndrome and increased mortality. The impact of large volume paracentesis (LVP) on the 24-h blood pressure (BP) profile is unknown, and the relationship to Na+-retentive and pro-inflammatory cytokines also remains unknown. The aims of this study were to (i) define the effects of LVP with albumin administration on 24-h BP profiles, and (ii) relate changes in BP over time to changes in Na+-retentive hormones, clinical factors and inflammatory cytokines.

METHODS

Ten patients undergoing LVP had 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring performed pre- and post-paracentesis. Markers of the innate immune system, bacterial translocation and Na+-retentive hormones were drawn pre- and post-LVP.

RESULTS

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) dropped in nine of the 10 patients in the 24 h following a paracentesis compared to 24 h preceding the procedure (mean drop of 5.5 mmHg, P<0.005). A mixed effects model was used to define time-covariate interactions in predicting changes in BP profile. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1) was associated with Δsystolic BP (β=-0.011, P<0.05), Δdiastolic BP (β=-0.012, P<0.05) and ΔMAP (β=-0.012, P<0.05). Plasma renin activity was also significantly associated with Δsystolic BP (β=-0.21, P<0.05). Renal function was also significantly reduced following LVP.

CONCLUSIONS

Systolic, diastolic and MAP decreased over 24 h after LVP compared to the 24 h pre-LVP. This drop is related to increases in MCP-1 after LVP. Increased MCP-1, a marker of monocyte activation, was strongly related to changes in BP.

Novel aspects of the liver microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and development

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent primary liver cancer that is derived from hepatocytes and is characterised by high mortality rate and poor prognosis. While HCC is driven by cumulative changes in the hepatocyte genome, it is increasingly recognised that the liver microenvironment plays a pivotal role in HCC propensity, progression and treatment response. The microenvironmental stimuli that have been recognised as being involved in HCC pathogenesis are diverse and include intrahepatic cell subpopulations, such as immune and stellate cells, pathogens, such as hepatitis viruses, and non-cellular factors, such as abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) and tissue hypoxia. Recently, a number of novel environmental influences have been shown to have an equally dramatic, but previously unrecognized, role in HCC progression. Novel aspects, including diet, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microflora and circulating microvesicles, are now being recognized as increasingly important in HCC pathogenesis. This review will outline aspects of the HCC microenvironment, including the potential role of GIT microflora and microvesicles, in providing new insights into tumourigenesis and identifying potential novel targets in the treatment of HCC.

Correction of all-trans retinoic acid deficiency in alcoholic cirrhosis lessens the excessive inflammatory monocyte response: a translational study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) have vitamin A (VA) deficiency and an enhanced immune response associated with disease severity. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a VA-active metabolite, has anti-inflammatory effects and its deficiency could contribute to the exacerbated proinflammatory reaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ATRA/VA deficiency and supplementation on the monocyte response in ALD.

METHODS

Vitamin A and ATRA plasma levels were quantified in ALD patients and healthy subjects (HS). The in vitro effect of ATRA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was assessed by ELISA and RT-PCR. The activation pattern of peritoneal macrophages (PerMΦ) and circulating monocytes isolated from VA-deficient mice and ALD patients, respectively, was evaluated by flow cytometry, quantification of TNF-α and NO2 production.

RESULTS

Alcoholic liver disease patients (n = 85) showed plasmatic VA deficiency that was correlated with scores of severity and with the hepatic venous pressure gradient. ATRA levels correlated significantly with VA levels. In vitro, ATRA pretreatment decreased the overproduction of TNF-α by LPS-stimulated PBMC of ALD patients. In vivo, VA deficiency in mice was associated with increased activation of PerMΦ, while oral ATRA supplementation normalized it.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we show that VA/ATRA deficiencies in ALD patients are associated with disease severity. Furthermore, our data strongly suggest that the VA deficiency observed in ALD patients might participate in the pathophysiology of the disease by priming immune cells, and that ATRA supplementation could downregulate the deleterious proinflammatory state in cirrhosis and might thus be of therapeutic use.

Red blood cell distribution width is a potential prognostic index for liver disease

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is increased in liver disease. Its clinical significance, however, remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify whether RDW was a prognostic index for liver disease.

METHODS

We studied, retrospectively, 33 patients with non-cirrhotic HBV chronic hepatitis, 125 patients with liver cirrhosis after HBV infection, 81 newly diagnosed primary hepatocellular carcinoma (pHCC) patients, 17 alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients and 42 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Sixty-six healthy individuals represented the control cohort. We analyzed the relationship between RDW on admission and clinical features. The association between RDW and hospitalization outcome was estimated by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and a multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Increased RDW was observed in liver disease patients. RDW was positively correlated with serum bilirubin and creatinine levels, prothrombin time, and negatively correlated with platelet counts and serum albumin concentration. A subgroup analysis, considering the different etiologies, revealed similar findings. Among the patients with liver cirrhosis, RDW increased with worsening of Child-Pugh grade. In patients with PBC, RDW positively correlated with Mayo risk score. Increased RDW was associated with worse hospital outcome, as shown by the AUC [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 0.76 (0.67-0.84). RDW above 15.15% was independently associated with poor hospital outcome after adjustment for serum bilirubin, platelet count, prothrombin time, albumin and age, with the odds ratio (95% CI) of 13.29 (1.67-105.68).

CONCLUSIONS

RDW is a potential prognostic index for liver disease.

Rapamycin ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis in the early phase of cirrhotic portal hypertension in rats through inhibition of mTORC1 but not mTORC2

Objective

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) transdifferentiation and subsequent inflammation are important pathological processes involved in the formation of cirrhotic portal hypertension. This study characterizes the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to cholestatic liver fibrosis and portal hypertension, and focuses on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway as a potential modulator in the early phase of cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Methods

Early cirrhotic portal hypertension was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) for three weeks. One week after operation, sham-operated (SHAM) and BDL rats received rapamycin (2 mg/kg/day) by intraperitoneal injection for fourteen days. Vehicle-treated SHAM and BDL rats served as controls. Fibrosis, inflammation, and portal pressure were evaluated by histology, morphometry, and hemodynamics. Expressions of pro-fibrogenic and pro-inflammatory genes in liver were measured by RT-PCR; alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and antigen Ki67 were detected by immunohistochemistry; expressions of AKT/mTOR signaling molecules, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were assessed by western blot.

Results

The AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was markedly activated in the early phase of cirrhotic portal hypertension induced by BDL in rats. mTOR blockade by rapamycin profoundly improved liver function by limiting inflammation, fibrosis and portal pressure. Rapamycin significantly inhibited the expressions of phosphorylated 70KD ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p-P70S6K) and phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (p-S6) but not p-AKT Ser473 relative to their total proteins in BDL-Ra rats. Those results suggested that mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1) rather than mTORC2 was inhibited by rapamycin. Interestingly, we also found that the level of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 was significantly increased in BDL rats, which was little affected by rapamycin.

Conclusions

The AKT/mTOR signaling pathway played an important role in the early phase of cirrhotic portal hypertension in rats, which could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in the early phase of such pathophysiological progress.

Defective thymopoiesis and poor peripheral homeostatic replenishment of T-helper cells cause T-cell lymphopenia in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Depletion of circulating CD4(+) T-helper (Th) lymphocytes, especially naive Th cells, is common in cirrhosis. Little is known about the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in Th-cell depletion in cirrhosis. We investigated the mechanisms involved in circulating Th-cell lymphopenia in cirrhosis.

METHODS

Circulating naive and memory Th cells were analyzed by flow cytometry in 60 patients with cirrhosis and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Thymopoiesis, apoptosis, cell activation, and proliferation were assessed through CD31, annexin-V, HLA-DR and Ki-67 expression, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) and spleen size were measured as indicators of bacterial translocation and splenic pooling, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients showed reduced numbers of Th cells involving a greater depletion of the naive than memory Th-cell compartment (2.7- vs. 1.5-fold, respectively). Recent thymic emigrants were diminished (p < 0.01), and each patient had a lower number of CD31(+) naive Th cells than the matched-control. Spontaneous and induced apoptosis (Annexin-V(+)) of Th cells was increased in patients. Activated (HLA-DR(+)) and proliferating (Ki-67(+)) memory Th cells were increased in patients (p < 0.01), and they directly correlated with plasma LBP (p < 0.05) and negatively with naive Th cells (p < 0.01), respectively. Naive Th cells were inversely correlated (p < 0.01) with their frequencies of apoptosis and of activated memory Th cells, LBP, and spleen size. On multivariate analysis, defective thymic generation of naive Th cells, increased memory Th-cell activation, and splenomegaly were independently associated with Th-cell depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Th-cell immunodeficiency in cirrhosis is explained by a universal defect in thymopoiesis exacerbated by splenic pooling and activation-driven cell-death induced by bacterial translocation.

Functional variants of eNOS and iNOS genes have no relationship to the portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE

Nitric oxide is an important vasoactive mediator. Changes in NO production, caused by functional variants of both endothelial and inducible NO synthase (eNOS, iNOS), might play a role in portal hypertension. The aim was to study the significance of functional eNOS and iNOS gene variants in cirrhotic patients and their interrelationship to both inflammatory and endothelial activation parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty-two patients with liver cirrhosis (age 36-72 years) and 101 controls were examined for functional variants of eNOS (E298D, 27bpintr4, 786T/C) and iNOS (R221W, S608L) genes. Inflammatory (IL6, IL8, IL10) and vasoactive (sVCAM-1, E-selectin) cytokines were measured using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

The frequency of E298D (GG 12%, GT 41%, TT 47%), 28bpintr4 (AA 6%, AB 28%, BB 66%), 786T/C genotypes (CC 17%, CT 45%, TT 38%), as well as R221W (CC 93%, CT 7%, TT 0%), and S608L (CC 65%, CT 32%, TT 3%) genotypes in cirrhotic patients did not differ from the controls (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). No relationship was found between the frequency of these genotypes and the severity of portal hypertension, or either inflammatory or vasoactive cytokines. A positive correlation was found between hepatic venous pressure gradient and cytokine concentration: sVCAM-1, IL6, IL8, IL10.

CONCLUSIONS

Examined eNOS and iNOS variants have no relationship to pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. Severity of portal hypertension was associated with the changes in endothelial activation.

Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio independently predicts survival in patients with liver cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel inflammation index that has been shown to independently predict poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the role of NLR in the prediction of long-term mortality in patients with stable liver cirrhosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective observational cohort study in which 145 stable cirrhotic patients without infection, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ongoing steroid therapy were enrolled between January 2009 and December 2011. The primary end point was survival during follow-up. NLR along with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, and Charlson comorbidity index were assessed for the prediction of mortality.

RESULTS

There were 86 men and 59 women, mean age 58.9±13.4 years. The etiologies of liver cirrhosis included viral hepatitis (n=73), cryptogenic (50), alcoholic (12), and other (10). The mean follow-up duration was 27.8±6.8 months, during which 40 patients died. The mean NLRs were 2.08±0.99 and 4.39±3.0 in surviving and nonsurviving patients, respectively (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out according to the median NLR above and below 2.72. Patients with NLR of at least 2.72 had a significantly lower survival (log rank, P<0.001). NLR was found to be an independent predictor of mortality in all Cox Regression models (odds ratio 1.2; 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.3; P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that cut-off values of 4.22, 3.07, and 2.96 for NLR predicted 12, 24, and 36-month mortality, respectively (AUC: 0.806, P=0.0029; 0.841, P<0.0001 and 0.783, P<0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

NLR is a predictor of mortality independent of CTP and MELD scores in patients with liver cirrhosis. NLR could predict mortality in the subgroup of patients with low MELD scores as well.

Intestinal and plasma VEGF levels in cirrhosis: the role of portal pressure

Increased levels of intestinal VEGF are thought to worsen portal hypertension. The cause of the increase in the level of intestinal VEGF found during cirrhosis is not known. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a relationship between portal pressure (PP) and intestinal/ plasma VEGF levels in different stages of fibrosis/cirrhosis. In this experiment, rats were exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 6, 8 and 12 weeks. At the end of exposure, the three groups of rats exhibited three different stages of pathology: non-cirrhotic, early fibrotic and cirrhotic, respectively. For those rats and their age-matched controls, PP and intestinal/plasma VEGF levels were measured. Rats inhaling CCl₄ for 12 weeks developed portal hypertension (18.02 ± 1.07 mmHg), while those exposed for 6 weeks (7.26 ± 0.58 mmHg) and for 8 weeks (8.55 ± 0.53 mmHg) did not. The rats exposed for 12 weeks also showed a 40% increase in the level of intestinal VEGF compared to the controls (P < 0.05), while those rats exposed to CCl₄ inhalation for 6 and 8 weeks did not. There was a significant positive correlation between PP and intestinal VEGF levels (r² = 0.4, P < 0.005). Plasma VEGF levels were significantly elevated in those rats exposed to 12 weeks of CCl₄ inhalation (63.7 pg/ml, P < 0.01), compared to the controls (8.5 pg/ml). However, no correlation was observed between PP and plasma VEGF levels. It is concluded that portal pressure modulates intestinal VEGF levels during the development of cirrhosis.

Bacterial translocation in HIV-infected patients with HCV cirrhosis: implication in hemodynamic alterations and mortality

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of the influence of portal hypertension on intestinal permeability in HIV-infected patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis and of the prognostic significance of consequent macrophage activation.

METHODS

Twenty HIV-monoinfected patients, 70 patients with HIV-HCV coinfection, 20 of them with compensated and 50 with decompensated cirrhosis, and 20 healthy controls were evaluated for intestinal permeability [measured by lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) serum levels], macrophage activation [soluble CD14, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 55 Kd, and interleukin 6 (IL-6)], and activation of the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis were monitored for a median period of 429 days to analyze the prognostic factors implicated in survival.

RESULTS

Patients with decompensated cirrhosis show increased LBP levels compared with HIV-monoinfected patients. Patients with increased LBP concentration showed elevated soluble CD14, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 55 Kd, and IL-6 levels. Twenty-two patients died, from liver-related causes, during the follow-up, and 2 more underwent liver transplantation. Child-Pugh index, CD4 T-cell count, plasma aldosterone and serum IL-6 concentrations independently predicted liver-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased intestinal permeability, as measured by serum LBP levels, observed in patients with HIV infection is significantly higher in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6) are prognostic markers of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients with decompensated cirrhosis.