title: Markers of inflammation and fibrosis in alcoholic hepatitis and viral hepatitis C.
abstract: High levels of profibrinogenic cytokine transforming factor beta (TGF-β), metalloprotease (MMP2), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease 1 (TIMP1) contribute to fibrogenesis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD). The aim of our study was to correlate noninvasive serum markers in ALD and HCV patients with various degrees of inflammation and fibrosis in their biopsies. Methods. Serum cytokines levels in HCV-infected individuals in the presence or absence of ALD were measured. Student's-t-test with Bonferroni correction determined the significance between the groups. Results. Both tumor-necrosis-factor- (TNF)-α and TGF-β levels increased significantly with the severity of inflammation and fibrosis. TGF-β levels increased significantly in ALD patients versus the HCV patients. Proinflammatory cytokines' responses to viral and/or toxic injury differed with the severity of liver inflammation. A combination of these markers was useful in predicting and diagnosing the stages of inflammation and fibrosis in HCV and ALD. Conclusion. Therapeutic monitoring of TGF-β and metalloproteases provides important insights into fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: In Vitro Drug Safety and Biotechnology, MaRS Discovery Centre, 101 College Street, South Tower, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1L7.
authors.forename: Manuela G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: Hemda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmilovitz-Weiss
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hilzenrat
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourliere
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: Cristhian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trepo
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazulli
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Asad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen