Heme oxygenase-1 mRNA expression in egyptian patients with chronic liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a global medical problem. This disease is associated with increased hepatic oxidative stress. One of the antioxidant enzymes that protect cells against this stress is heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the mRNA expression of HO-1 in Egyptian patients with CLD and its relation to oxidative stress biomarkers.


METHODS
Levels of serum ferritin, carboxyhemoglobin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured, and HO-1 mRNA expression was detected in 45 CLD patients (15 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH], 15 with chronic hepatitis C, and 15 with liver cirrhosis) and 15 healthy controls.


RESULTS
HO-1 mRNA expression was increased in patients with NASH, chronic hepatitis C, and liver cirrhosis compared to controls. The expression in cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that in patients with NASH and chronic hepatitis C. Compared to controls, patients with NASH, chronic hepatitis C, and liver cirrhosis had higher levels of ferritin, carboxyhemoglobin, and MDA and lower levels of GSH. HO-1 mRNA expression was positively correlated with levels of carboxyhemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum MDA and negatively correlated with levels of erythrocyte GSH in CLD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
HO-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in CLD patients, and the increase reflected the severity of the disease. The significant relationship between the increased HO-1 expression and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with CLD suggests that HO-1 may play an important role in protecting the liver from oxidative stress-dependent damage. Therefore, induction of HO-1 could be a novel therapeutic option for CLD.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
Sahar Saad El-Din
SS
Bessa
Ehab Mostafa
EM
Mohamed Ali
Abeer El-Sayed
Ael-S
Abd El-Wahab
Sherif Abd El-Monem
SA
Nor El-Din