title: Elevated apoptosis-associated cytokeratin 18 fragments (CK18Asp386) in serum of patients with chronic liver diseases indicate hepatic and biliary inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During apoptosis, intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 18 (CK18) is cleaved by caspases at Asp396 which can be specifically detected by the monoclonal antibody M30 (M30-antigen).
  
  
  METHODS
  M30-antigen serum levels were analyzed in 76 chronic liver diseases (CLD) patients and 62 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  M30-antigen levels were significantly elevated in CLD patients (median 296.3 U/L) compared with healthy controls (median 153.5 U/L, P<0.001) and increased with disease severity (Child-Pugh or MELD score). M30-antigen correlated with aminotransferase activities and parameters indicating cholestasis such as bile acids. Highest serum M30-antigen was associated with histologically confirmed severe intrahepatic cholestasis (median 599.1 U/L) or biliary duct inflammation (median 648.0 U/L). Furthermore, in contrast to patients with liver cirrhosis, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with elevated M30-antigen in patients without cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum M30-antigen levels are elevated in CLD and correlate with hepatic inflammation as well as cholangitis and cholestasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trautwein
authors.forename: M P G
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Leers
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gressner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tacke
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000097:blood*; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D053538:Keratin-18