title: Serum collagen type VI and XIV and hyaluronic acid as early indicators for altered connective tissue turnover in alcoholic liver disease.
abstract: Hepatic fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease often heralds progression to cirrhosis and, therefore, noninvasive parameters are required for early diagnosis and follow-up. Collagens VI and XIV, procollagen-III-N-propeptide, hyaluronic acid, and active transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were measured in healthy volunteers, patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, and heavy drinkers without cirrhosis. Noncirrhotic alcoholics were assigned to two groups with either normal aspartate aminotransferase or levels > or = 2 normal. Collagens VI and XIV were elevated in all alcoholic patients compared to controls (P < 0.0001, all instances). Procollagen-III-N-propeptide and hyaluronic acid levels were higher in alcoholic patients with elevated liver enzymes and in cirrhotics as compared to controls. Procollagen-III-N-propeptide revealed a significant correlation with serum levels of TGF-beta1 (P < 0.0001). Collagens VI, and XIV, procollagen-III-N-propeptide, and hyaluronic acid appear to be sensitive markers indicating fibrotic transformation in alcoholics. The correlation between procollagen-III-N-propeptide and TGF-beta1 emphasizes its role in hepatic fibrogenesis.
authors.affiliation: I. Department of Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stickel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urbaschek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuppan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poeschl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oesterling
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conradt
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McCuskey
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Simanowski
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Seitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen