title: Beta-hexosaminidase activity in alcoholic fatty liver and in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis of the rat.
abstract: beta-Hexosaminidase (Hex) activity was previously found to be increased in the sera of patients with liver cirrhosis, cholestasis and acute alcohol intoxication, as well as in rats with CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis. We studied this enzymatic activity in the sera and liver tissue of rats with alcoholic fatty liver due to prolonged alcohol intake and CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in association with moderate alterations in liver function tests. Serum and liver Hex activity did not show any significant change in both experimental models. These data suggest that Hex is not an alcohol-induced enzyme, and that severe, but not moderate, liver damage can determine the increase in this lysosomal enzymatic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, 2nd School of Medicine, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antoniello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Auletta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vatiero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cacciatore
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases