Oxidative stress EPR measurement in human liver by radical-probe technique. Correlation with etiology, histology and cell proliferation.
The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in liver disease is controversial. This mostly reflects the difficulties to quantify ROS in vivo, particularly in humans. We aimed to measure the presence of ROS in diseased human liver and identify possible relations between ROS levels and etiology, histology and hepatocyte proliferation. Liver biopsy specimens from 102 individuals: 18 healthy controls and 84 patients (42 HCV chronic hepatitis (CHC), 19 HBV chronic hepatitis (CHB), 7 PBC, 4 PSC, 4 HCV relapsing hepatitis after liver transplantation, 3 autoimmune hepatitis, 3 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 alcoholic hepatitis) underwent analysis by radical-probe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). ROS in patients (median = 5 x 10(-6) mmol/mg) were higher than in controls (median = 3 x 10(-11) mmol/mg) (p < 0.001). Progressively increasing levels of ROS were recorded passing from control values to CHB (median = 4 x 10(-7) mmol/mg), CHC (median = 3 x 10(-6) mmol/mg) and PBC (median = 2 x 10(-5) mmol/mg), the differences being significant (p < 0.001). ROS in CHC positively correlated with histological disease activity (r = 0.92; p < 0.001). No correlation was found between ROS and hepatocyte proliferation rate, presence/degree of steatosis, serum ferritin levels and aminotransferases. ROS overproduction in liver appears to be a common thread linking different pathologic conditions and seems to be influenced by diseases' etiologies.
Valgimigli
Marco
M
Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Bologna, Via S. Donato 15, 40127 Bologna, Italy. valgimig@alma.unibo.it
Valgimigli
Luca
L
Trerè
Davide
D
Gaiani
Stefano
S
Pedulli
Gian Franco
GF
Gramantieri
Laura
L
Bolondi
Luigi
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002455:Cell Division; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013113:Spin Labels; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology
D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013113:Spin Labels; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase