title: Hypermethylation of the galectin-3 promoter is associated with poor prognosis of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The possible role of galectin-3 in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the methylation status of the galectin-3 promoter in patients with ACHBLF and analyze its prognostic value.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methylation status of the galectin-3 promoter in patients with ACHBLF, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and healthy controls (HCs) was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The galectin-3 mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methylation frequency of the galectin-3 promoter was significantly higher while galectin-3 mRNA was lower in ACHBLF than in CHB and HCs. Galectin-3 promoter methylation was negatively correlated with the mRNA level in ACHBLF. In addition, ACHBLF patients carrying the methylated promoter showed shorter survival time, higher 3-month mortality, and higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score when compared to ACHBLF patients carrying the unmethylated promoter. Moreover, promoter methylation was a better predictor of 3-week mortality than the MELD score in ACHBLF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that hypermethylation of the galectin-3 promoter might be an early biomarker for predicting disease severity and prognosis in patients with ACHBLF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute of Hepatology, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute of Hepatology, Shandong University, Jinan, China. Electronic address: wangdoc876@126.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D065290:Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D037161:Galectins; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure; DNA methylation; Galectin-3; Prognosis