BACKGROUND: It has been reported that histological activity index and piecemeal necrosis are good factors to evaluate the prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Thus, there is a need for simple and noninvasive means to assess disease activity and piecemeal necrosis in patients with CHC. In this study, we measured the serum concentrations of large splice variants of tenascin-C (cTN-C) in patients with CHC, and examined their correlation with the degree of inflammatory activity and fibrosis as evaluated in liver biopsy specimens. METHODS: The serum levels of cTN-C in 150 patients with CHC and 50 healthy volunteers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent. The histology of liver biopsy specimens was also evaluated following the Desmet's grading/staging system and the Ishak's classification. Liver specimens obtained by biopsy were also immunohistochemically evaluated with anti-human tenascin-C antibodies. RESULTS: Serum cTN-C concentrations were significantly higher in CHC patients than in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001). The levels of cTN-C showed no significant difference among the fibrosis stages as assessed by the Desmet's grading/staging system and Ishak's classification scores. However, the concentration of cTN-C was significantly correlated with the grade of activity. According to the Ishak's classification, the concentration of cTN-C was increased in proportion to the degree of piecemeal necrosis. Specific immunostaining of cTN-C was observed in limited areas of piecemeal necrosis but not in fibrotic areas. CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum levels of cTN-C is a useful marker of the activity of CHC, in particular of the degree of piecemeal necrosis.
BACKGROUND: It has been reported that histological activity index and piecemeal necrosis are good factors to evaluate the prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Thus, there is a need for simple and noninvasive means to assess disease activity and piecemeal necrosis in patients with CHC. In this study, we measured the serum concentrations of large splice variants of tenascin-C (cTN-C) in patients with CHC, and examined their correlation with the degree of inflammatory activity and fibrosis as evaluated in liver biopsy specimens. METHODS: The serum levels of cTN-C in 150 patients with CHC and 50 healthy volunteers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent. The histology of liver biopsy specimens was also evaluated following the Desmet's grading/staging system and the Ishak's classification. Liver specimens obtained by biopsy were also immunohistochemically evaluated with anti-humantenascin-C antibodies. RESULTS: Serum cTN-C concentrations were significantly higher in CHCpatients than in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001). The levels of cTN-C showed no significant difference among the fibrosis stages as assessed by the Desmet's grading/staging system and Ishak's classification scores. However, the concentration of cTN-C was significantly correlated with the grade of activity. According to the Ishak's classification, the concentration of cTN-C was increased in proportion to the degree of piecemeal necrosis. Specific immunostaining of cTN-C was observed in limited areas of piecemeal necrosis but not in fibrotic areas. CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum levels of cTN-C is a useful marker of the activity of CHC, in particular of the degree of piecemeal necrosis.
Authors: Jennifer H Benbow; April D Elam; Krista L Bossi; Danae L Massengill; Elizabeth Brandon-Warner; William E Anderson; Catherine R Culberson; Mark W Russo; Andrew S deLemos; Laura W Schrum Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2018-01-12 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: K Bubová; K Prajzlerová; H Hulejová; M Gregová; K Mintálová; M Hušáková; Š Forejtová; M Filková; M Tomčík; J Vencovský; K Pavelka; L Šenolt Journal: Physiol Res Date: 2020-06-25 Impact factor: 1.881
Authors: Theresa H Page; Peter J Charles; Anna M Piccinini; Vicky Nicolaidou; Peter C Taylor; Kim S Midwood Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2012-11-29 Impact factor: 5.156
Authors: Jakub Závada; Michal Uher; Radka Svobodová; Marta Olejárová; Markéta Hušáková; Hana Ciferská; Hana Hulejová; Michal Tomčík; Ladislav Šenolt; Jiří Vencovský Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2015-11-25 Impact factor: 5.156
Authors: Jos L J van der Velden; Ying Ye; James D Nolin; Sidra M Hoffman; David G Chapman; Karolyn G Lahue; Sarah Abdalla; Peng Chen; Yong Liu; Brydon Bennett; Nasreen Khalil; Donna Sutherland; William Smith; Gerald Horan; Mahmoud Assaf; Zebulun Horowitz; Rajesh Chopra; Randall M Stevens; Maria Palmisano; Yvonne M W Janssen-Heininger; Peter H Schafer Journal: Clin Transl Med Date: 2016-09-02