title: Soluble CD163 is an indicator of liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Soluble CD163 (sCD163), a marker for macrophage activation, was found to be associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether serum sCD163 levels correlate with liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In a retrospective cohort study, serum sCD163 levels were assessed by ELISA together with clinical and laboratory data in 186 patients with chronic HBV infection and 15 healthy controls. The relation between parameters for liver fibrosis and necroinflammation and sCD163 levels was analysed. Additionally, sCD163 was quantified in a subset of follow-up serum samples after initiation of antiviral treatment. sCD163 levels differed among phases of chronic HBV infection (P < 0.0001), and sCD163 concentrations were associated with inflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver. sCD163 levels ≥ 1961 ng/l had a high specificity in the identification of subjects with substantial fibrosis (F ≥ 2). sCD163 concentrations decreased significantly after initiation of antiviral treatment. The correlation of sCD163 levels with necroinflammation and fibrosis and the sCD163 decline under treatment indicates that macrophage activation plays a role in HBV-related liver pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 1, Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dultz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farnik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermehren
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pleli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piiper
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kronenberger
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Waidmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015415:Biomarkers; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
keywords: CD163; Kupffer cell; fibrosis; hepatitis B virus; macrophage; necroinflammation; soluble CD163