Expression of urotensin II and its receptor in human liver cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure.
OBJECTIVE
Urotensin II [U-II] plasma levels are increased in liver cirrhosis [LC] and are discussed as an important mediator of portal hypertension since the U-II antagonist palosuran has beneficial effects on portal hypertension by increasing splanchnic resistance. Nevertheless, no data are available on the intrahepatic expression of U-II and its receptor [UT] in humans.


METHODS
U-II and UT expression were analyzed in the livers of patients with LC, fulminant hepatic failure [FHF], and normal controls [NC] using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Both U-II and UT were expressed in the liver on endothelial cells from arteries, veins, and bile ducts as well as on Kupffer cells. In LC, the total number of U-II-expressing cells was 20% lower compared to NC (P < 0.001), while expression of UT did not differ between LC and NC. In contrast, significant enhanced number of U-II and UT positive cells were found in FHF compared to LC and NC (P < 0.001). U-II and UT expression was also found in portal veins, without differences between LC and NC.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that U-II and UT are not elevated in human cirrhotic livers but are in livers of patients with FHF.
Leifeld
Ludger
L
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Köln-Kalk, Buchforstrasse 2, 51103 Cologne, Germany. l.leifeld@gmx.de
Clemens
Christoph
C
Heller
Jörg
J
Trebicka
Jonel
J
Sauerbruch
Tilman
T
Spengler
Ulrich
U
D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000378:metabolism*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014579:Urotensins / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014579:Urotensins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C029677:urotensin II