title: Bile acid levels are increased in the liver of patients with steatohepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of steatohepatitis remains largely unknown; however, bile acids may play a role as potential mediators of liver damage. The aim of this study was to characterize bile acid profiles in liver tissue of patients with steatohepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bile acid composition was determined by gas-liquid chromatography in liver tissue from patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; n=15), patients with alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH; n=14), and controls (n=8). Liver biopsies were graded for steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bile acids were moderately increased in liver tissue of steatohepatitis patients compared with controls (P<0.05). Deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, and cholic acids were elevated by 92, 64, and 43%, respectively, in patients with steatohepatitis (P<0.05). Cholic acid was the prevailing bile acid in NASH patients and in controls. More hydrophobic bile acid species were elevated in ASH patients compared with controls (P<0.05). Significant correlations were found in NASH patients between hepatic chenodeoxycholic acid and fibrosis, and between cholic acid and trihydroxy/dihydroxy bile acids and inflammation (P<0.05). In patients with ASH, cholic acid and trihydroxy/dihydroxy bile acids were correlated with steatosis (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a distinct pattern of bile acids in the liver of patients with steatohepatitis. Further, the association between bile acids and histological liver injury suggests an association of specific bile acids and disease progression, possibly through bile acid-induced liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Patogénese Molecular, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Márcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aranha
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cortez-Pinto
authors.forename: Adília
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Isabel B Moreira
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Camilo
authors.forename: Miguel Carneiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.forename: Cecília M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D019826:Cholic Acid