Cytochrome c is a possible new marker for fulminant hepatitis in humans.
BACKGROUND
Cytochrome c is known as a substance related to apoptosis. We investigated serum cytochrome c levels in patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH) compared with these levels in patients with acute or chronic liver diseases.


METHODS
Serum cytochrome c was measured by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method. The numbers of patients were as follows: fulminant hepatitis (FH; n = 15), acute hepatitis (AH; n = 12), chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 30), chronic hepatitis with acute aggravation (CHA; n = 6), liver cirrhosis (LC; n = 30), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 30), and healthy volunteers (controls; n = 9).


RESULTS
The serum cytochrome c level in FH was 10 686 +/- 7787 pg/ml, with a significant difference (P < 0.01) compared to levels in the other groups. In the FH patients, the serum cytochrome c level was significantly correlated to serum mitochondria (m)-GOT, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and it was negatively correlated to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and total bilirubin (T.Bil.) The serum cytochrome c level seemed to parallel the severity of hepatic coma. Immunohistochemical study indicated TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the livers of patients with FH.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that serum cytochrome c may be a possible new marker for acute liver failure.
Sakaida
Isao
I
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, 755-8505, Japan.
Kimura
Teruaki
T
Yamasaki
Takahiro
T
Fukumoto
Yohei
Y
Watanabe
Keisuke
K
Aoyama
Muneo
M
Okita
Kiwamu
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D045304:Cytochromes c; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001663:Bilirubin