title: [Serum hyaluronic acid level: correlation with quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The serum level of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been suggested as a useful serologic marker for hepatic fibrosis. However, the relationship between serum HA levels and quantitative markers of fibrosis from liver tissue has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between serum HA level and quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cirrhosis was produced by common bile duct ligation (BDL) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were classified into four groups: (1) G1, sham operated (n=5); (2) G2, BDL for 2 weeks (n=6); (3) G3, BDL for 3 weeks (n=6); and (4) G4, BDL for 4 weeks (n=6). Hepatic fibrosis was analyzed histomorphologically using the Batts and Ludwig scoring system. Serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content were quantified. The gene expressions in the liver of procollagen, collagen, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups G1, G2, G3, and G4, the Batts and Ludwig scores (mean+/-SD) were 0, 1.3+/-0.5, 2.6+/-0.5, and 3.4+/-0.5, respectively (P<0.05), serum HA levels were 12.5+/-3.2, 30.0+/-4.3, 228.6+/-157.7, and 391.3+/-207.7 ng/mL (P<0.05), and the concentration of hydroxyproline was 12.4+/-2.8, 17.6+/-3.8, 17.9+/-2.4, and 33.4+/-3.4 microg/g liver tissue, and it was significantly higher in group G4 than in the other groups (P<0.05). The gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, and TGF-beta1 in the liver were also significantly higher in group G4 compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Direct linear correlations were observed between serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content, hepatic gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, TGF-beta1, and histomorphological grade of hepatic fibrosis (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that serum HA is a useful and noninvasive serologic marker for the evaluation of advanced hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Yoon Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ki Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Yun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sun Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soon Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Um
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyub
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000097:blood; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011347:Procollagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline