[Changes in plasma vitronectin, fibronectin, and serum laminin P1 levels and immunohistochemical study of vitronectin in the liver of patients with chronic liver diseases].
Vitronectin (VN), fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM), which are known to be important glycoproteins in cell attachment, are produced by such liver cells as hepatocytes, Kupffer cells endothelial cells and Ito cells. In this study, the levels of plasma VN, FN and serum LM P1 in patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied with cirrhosis were examined and compared with those in normal subjects. Plasma VN levels in patients with chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis were less than that in normal subjects. As hepatic dysfunction deteriorated, plasma VN level decreased in chronic liver diseases. Plasma FN levels in patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis were also less than that of patients with chronic hepatitis, which was not significantly different from that of normal subjects. Plasma VN and FN levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were similar to those in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Plasma VN and FN levels in patients with chronic liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma showed positive correlations with serum albumin content, cholinesterase activity, and normalized normo test value. On the other hand, serum LM P1 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis were higher than that of normal subjects. As hepatic dysfunction deteriorated, serum LM P1 level increased in chronic liver diseases. Level of serum type IV collagen 7S, which is related to hepatic fibrosis, was similar to that of serum LM P1; serum LM P1 concentration in patients with chronic liver diseases showed a significant positive correlation with that of serum type IV collagen 7S. Immunolocalization of VN in liver tissue from patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis was examined by the method of avidin-biotin-complex staining, and positive reaction was observed in enlarged portal tracts, central veins and fibrous septa. These results suggest that decreased levels of plasma VN and FN and increased level of serum LM P1 in patients with chronic liver diseases are related to hepatic dysfunction, and that changes in the levels of these glycoproteins involved in cell attachment are important in the development of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases.
Tomihira
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D019096:Vitronectin
D005353:Fibronectins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007797:Laminin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019096:Vitronectin; C055716:laminin P1