N-glycopeptide Signatures of IgA2 in Serum from Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-related Liver Diseases

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Highlights

• •¹⁸O/¹⁶O labeling N-glycopeptide quantification for 40-kDa band in HCC and LC.
• •MRM verification of aberrant N-glycopeptides in healthy-HBV-LC-HCC cascade.
• •TPLTAN²⁰⁵ITK (H5N5S1F1) and (H5N4S2F1) of IgA₂ change in liver diseases.
• •Variation in two N-glycopeptides abundance not caused by protein concentration.

     

Genetic Diversity and Tissue Compartmentalization of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome in Blood Mononuclear Cells, Liver, and Serum from Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

The degree of genetic variability in the hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was analyzed by cloning and sequencing HCV genomes obtained in paired samples of serum, liver tissue, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from four chronic hepatitis C patients. Genetic variability in serum was higher than in liver tissue or PBMC at the level of complexity (the number of different sequences obtained from each type of tissue) as well as at the level of genetic distance between all pairs of sequences within each tissue (compared by the Student t test; P < 0.001 for two patients and P < 0.01 for another). The spectrum of viral genomes differed among the three types of tissue, as shown by segregation of sequences according to their tissue of origin in phylogenetic analysis and by statistical analysis of mean genetic distances observed between sequences obtained from different tissues (P < 0.001), but sequences from liver tissue and PBMC were more closely related to each other than to those from serum.     

Distinct Distribution Pattern of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype C and D in Liver Tissue and Serum of Dual Genotype Infected Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Aims

The impact of co-infection of several hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes on the clinical outcome remains controversial. This study has for the first time investigated the distribution of HBV genotypes in the serum and in the intrahepatic tissue of liver cirrhotic (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients from India. In addition, the genotype-genotype interplay and plausible mechanism of development of HCC has also been explored.

Methods

The assessment of HBV genotypes was performed by nested PCR using either surface or HBx specific primers from both the circulating virus in the serum and replicative virus that includes covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) of HBV from the intrahepatic tissue. The integrated virus within the host chromosome was genotyped by Alu-PCR method. Each PCR products were cloned and sequences of five randomly selected clones were subsequently analysed.

Results

HBV/genotype D was detected in the serum of all LC and HCC patients whereas the sequences of the replicative HBV DNA (cccDNA and rcDNA) from the intrahepatic tissue of the same patients revealed the presence of both HBV/genotype C and D. The sequences of the integrated viruses exhibited the solo presence of HBV/genotype C in the majority of LC and HCC tissues while both HBV/genotype C and D clones were found in few patients in which HBV/genotype C was predominated. Moreover, compared to HBV/genotype D, genotype C had higher propensity to generate double strand breaks, ER stress and reactive oxygen species and it had also showed higher cellular homologous-recombination efficiency that engendered more chromosomal rearrangements, which ultimately led to development of HCC.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the necessity of routine analysis of HBV genotype from the liver tissue of each chronic HBV infected patient in clinical practice to understand the disease prognosis and also to select therapeutic strategy.     

乙肝患者肝组织乙型肝炎病毒cccDNA和血清MIF表达的相关性研究

目的:探讨乙肝患者肝组织乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)共价闭合环状DNA(covalently closed circular DNA,cccDNA)和血清巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(Macrophage migration inhibitory factor,MIF)的表达相关性。方法:选择2016年2月到2016年7月在我院诊治的乙肝患者144例作为乙肝组,同期选择体格检查健康者144例作为对照组,采集所有入选者的血清样本,检测血清MIF、谷丙转氨酶(Glutamic pyruvic transaminase,ALT)、谷草转氨酶(Glutamic pyruvic aminotransferase,AST)、总胆红素(total bilirubin,TBIL)的表达,并对乙肝组患者肝组织HBV cccDNA采用荧光定量PCR技术检测表达分析,直线相关分析乙肝组的血清HBV cccDNA表达量与血清ALT、TBi L、AST、MIF含量相关性。结果:乙肝组的血清MIF、ALT、TBi L、AST含量均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。乙肝组的肝组织HBV cccDNA阳性率为54.17%(78/144)。直线相关分析显示乙肝组的肝组织HBV cccDNA表达量与血清ALT、TBi L、AST、MIF含量均呈现明显正相关性(P0.05)。结论:乙肝患者体内血清MIF水平明显升高,伴肝组织HBV cccDNA的表达也升高,两者存在明显的正相关性。因此检测血清MIF水平有助于评估乙肝患者HBV的感染情况。     

Liver Stiffness Measurement among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C: Results from a 5-Year Prospective Study

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is widely used to evaluate liver fibrosis, but longitudinal studies are rare. The current study was aimed to monitor LSM during follow-up, and to evaluate the association of LSM data with mortality and liver-related outcomes. We included all patients with chronic viral hepatitis and valid LSM using Fibroscan. Information about liver biopsy, antiviral treatment, and clinical outcome was obtained from medical records and national registers. The study included 845 patients: 597 (71%) with hepatitis C virus (HCV), 235 (28%) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 13 (2%) with dual infection. The initial LSM distribution (<7/7–9.9/10–16.9/≥17 kPa) was 58%/16%/14%/12%. Among patients with initial LSM values of 7–9.9 kPa, 60% of HCV patients and 83% of HBV patients showed LSM values of <7 kPa at the latest follow-up. Progression rates (defined as >20% and >2 kPa increase, with one measure >7 kPa) were 3.4/100 person years (PY) for HCV and 1.5/100 PY for HBV infected patients. Patients with LSM values of ≥17 kPa had the same liver-related complication incidence as patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis (11.1 versus 12.1/100 PY). Thirteen liver-related deaths occurred among HCV patients (0.6/100 PY), but none among HBV patients. Among patients who died of liver-related causes, all but one had baseline LSM values of ≥17 kPa. Overall, patients with LSM values <17 kPa were not associated with adverse outcomes. In contrast, LSM values ≥17 kPa were associated with significant risk of liver-related problems. The results of the current study suggest that clinical decisions should not be taken based on a single LSM measurement.     

乙型肝炎病人重叠感染丙型肝炎的评价

应用ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＰＣＲ法检测５０２例乙肝病人血清,４０１例ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性血清中,有１１４例（２８．４％）抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ双项阳性,２５例（６．２％）ＨＣＶＲＮＡ单项阳性;２１例（５．２％）抗－ＨＣＶ单项阳性。将ＨＢｓＡｇ乙肝病人分成ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性组和ＨＢＶＤＮＡ,ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性组。前者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为１１．６％～２０．５％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为１６．２％～２０．５％。后者抗－ＨＣＶ阳性率为２０．２％～５５．６％,ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率为２３％～６０．３％。结果说明长期携带ＨＢＶ者和慢性乙肝病人均可重叠ＨＣＶ感染。ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ阳性率明显高于ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性组     

肝硬化与肝癌患者血浆游离氨基酸水平分析

采用高效液相色谱法分析了２５例肝硬化和１５例肝癌患者空腹血浆游离氨基酸水平的变化。结果表明,二者支链氨基酸（ＢＣＡＡ）如Ｖａｌ、Ｉｌｅ呈下降趋势,而芳香族氨基酸（ＡＡＡ）如Ｔｙｒ、Ｐｈｅ则呈上升趋势,ＢＣＡＡ／ＡＡＡ分子比值下降。丙氨酸（Ａｌａ）、蛋氨酸（Ｍｅｔ）、谷氨酰胺（Ｇｌｎ）及天门冬氨酸（Ａｓｐ）明显上升。其变化趋势二者存在差别。     

Inflammation and Liver Cell Death in Patients with Hepatitis C Viral Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver disease contributes to chronic hepatitis. The immune factors identified in HCV include changes in the innate and adaptive immune system. The inflammatory mediators, known as “inflammasome”, are a consequence of the metabolic products of cells and commensal or pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The only effective strategy to prevent disease progression is eradication of the viral infection. Immune cells play a pivotal role during liver inflammation, triggering fibrogenesis. The present paper discusses the potential role of markers in cell death and the inflammatory cascade leading to the severity of liver damage. We aim to present the clinical parameters and laboratory data in a cohort of 88 HCV-infected non-cirrhotic and 25 HCV cirrhotic patients, to determine the characteristic light microscopic (LM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) changes in their liver biopsies and to present the link between the severity of liver damage and the serum levels of cytokines and caspases. A matched HCV non-infected cohort was used for the comparison of serum inflammatory markers. We compared the inflammation in HCV individuals with a control group of 280 healthy individuals. We correlated the changes in inflammatory markers in different stages of the disease and the histology. We concluded that the serum levels of cytokine, chemokine, and cleaved caspase markers reveal the inflammatory status in HCV. Based upon the information provided by the changes in biomarkers the clinician can monitor the severity of HCV-induced liver damage. New oral well-tolerated treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis C patients can achieve cure rates of over 90%. Therefore, using the noninvasive biomarkers to monitor the evolution of the liver damage is an effective personalized medicine procedure to establish the severity of liver injury and its repair.     

The Association of IL28B Polymorphism and Graft Survival in Patients with Hepatitis C Undergoing Liver Transplantation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver transplantation (LT) in Western countries. Polymorphism in the IL28B gene region has a major impact on the natural history and response to antiviral treatment in HCV. We investigated whether IL28B polymorphism was associated with graft survival in patients with or without HCV undergoing LT. 1,060 adult patients (age >18 years) underwent LT between years 2000 and 2008. Patients with previous LT, living donor LT and patients dying or requiring retransplants within 30 days of LT were excluded. DNA samples of 620 (84%) recipients and 377 (51%) donors were available for genotyping of IL28B rs12979860C>T. Donor IL28B genotypes had no significant differences in graft survival irrespective of HCV status. There was no difference in graft outcome in the non-HCV cohort (n = 293) based on recipient IL28B genotype. In the HCV group (n = 327), recipients with CC or CT genotype had better graft survival compared to TT genotype (62% vs. 48%, p = 0.02). HCV recipients with CC or CT genotype had delayed time to clinically relevant HCV recurrence compared to TT (10.4 vs. 6.7 months, p = 0.002). The beneficial effect of the CC/CT genotype on HCV recurrence and graft survival was independent of antiviral treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that in contrast to donor IL28B genotype recipient IL28B was associated with graft survival and clinically relevant HCV recurrence in HCV infected recipients. No effect of IL28B genotype was manifest in non-HCV LT recipients.     

Investigation of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Anti-HBc Positive Patients from a Liver Clinic

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is manifested by presence of very low levels (<200IU/mL) of Hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV DNA) in the blood and the liver while exhibiting undetectable HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). The molecular mechanisms underlying this occurrence are still not completely understood. This study investigated the prevalence of OBI in a high-risk Australian population and compared the HBV S gene sequences of our cohort with reference sequences. Serum from HBV DNA positive, HBsAg negative, and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive patients (study cohort) were obtained from samples tested at SEALS Serology Laboratory using the Abbott Architect, as part of screening and diagnostic testing. From a total of 228,108 samples reviewed, 1,451 patients were tested for all three OBI markers. Only 10 patients (0.69%) out of the 1,451 patients were found to fit the selection criteria for OBI. Sequence analysis of the HBV S gene from 5 suspected OBI infected patients showed increased sequence variability in the ‘a’ epitope of the major hydrophilic region compared to reference sequences. In addition, a total of eight consistent nucleotide substitutions resulting in seven amino acid changes were observed, and three patients had truncated S gene sequence. These mutations appeared to be stable and may result in alterations in HBsAg conformation. These may negatively impact the affinity of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and may explain the false negative results in serological HBV diagnosis. These changes may also enable the virus to persist in the liver by evading immune surveillance. Further studies on a bigger cohort are required to determine whether these amino acid variations have been acquired in the process of immune escape and serve as markers of OBI.     

乙肝肾患儿血清、肾脏和肝脏组织内乙肝病毒感染标志物的比较

目的:比较分析乙型肝炎病毒相关性肾炎(HBV-GN)患儿血清、肾脏和肝脏组织内HBV感染标志物的表达情况。方法:45例血清HBV感染标志物阳性的HBV-GN患儿经肾脏组织活检确诊,其中13例同时进行肝脏组织活检,且行HBV感染标志物免疫组织化学检查。结果:45例HBV-GN肾脏病理改变为:膜性肾病(MN)25例(55.6%)、系膜增生性肾炎(MsPGN)11例(24.4%)、膜增生性肾炎(MPGN)5例(11.1%)、毛细血管内皮增生性肾炎(EPGN)4例(8.9%),免疫荧光检查显示肾脏组织内以IgG(40例,88.9%)和C3(34例,75.6%)沉积为主。血清HBV感染标志物HBeAg( )组25例(55.6%),HBeAg(-)组20例(44.4%);肾脏组织中HBcAg的阳性率为80.0%(36/45),其中,血清HBeAg(-)组肾脏组织HBcAg阳性率(100.0%)明显高于血清HBeAg( )组(64.0%),(P=0.002)。肝肾同检结果显示HBV感染标志物(HBsAg和HBcAg)在肝脏组织表达的阳性率分别为84.6%和53.8%,在肾脏组织表达的阳性率分别为84.6%和76.9%,且肝、肾组织中HBV感染标志物表达不同步。结论:HBV-GN患儿血清、肾脏和肝脏组织内HBV感染标志物表达呈明显的不一致性。     

IL28B Gene Polymorphisms and US Liver Fatty Changes in Patients Who Spontaneously Cleared Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Background

Recent clinical studies have shown that the presence of CC genotype in the rs12979860 region of IL28B gene is associated with an increase in the probability of spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Moreover, IL28B polymorphism seems to influence the probability of developing liver steatosis in chronic HCV patients.

Aims

The aims of our clinical study were 1) to verify the distribution of IL28B genotypes (CC, CT or TT) among subjects with spontaneous clearance of HCV infection and 2) to examine the correlation between IL28B polymorphism and hepatic steatosis among these subjects.

Methods and patients

We enrolled 41 subjects with spontaneous resolution of HCV infection (detectable serum anti-HCV but undetectable HCV-RNA) and 134 healthy controls from the same geographical area. The IL28B single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 was genotyped by using a Pyrosequencing™ technique. The presence of steatosis was assessed by liver biopsy or ultrasound examination in the 41 study subjects.

Results

CC, CT and TT-genotypes of the SNP rs1979860 were found in 66%, 24% and 10% of the subjects who spontaneously cleared HCV and in 31%, 54% and 15% of controls, respectively (p = 0.0003). Among the study subjects, females with CC-genotype were significantly more represented (p = 0.02). Hepatic steatosis did not correlate with IL28B genotype (p = 0,14) but only with a high body mass index (BMI) value (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Female subjects carrying IL28B CC-genotype are significantly more represented among Italian patients who spontaneously cleared HCV infection. In addition, among these subjects, the presence of liver steatosis does not correlate with IL28B genotype but is solely related to the occurrence of high BMI. Thus, the association between IL28B polymorphism and steatosis in chronic HCV patients requires the presence of active HCV replication to occur, while in subjects who have cleared the infection, the mechanism(s) inducing liver steatosis are independent from IL28B profile.     

Familial Clustering of Hepatitis B Antigen: A Study in Relatives of Patients with Liver Diseases and Hepatitis B Antigenaemia

Twelve of the 100 family contacts of 29 patients with transient and persistent hepatitis B antigenaemia were found to be positive for hepatitis B antigen (HBAg). No relation was found between familial clustering and the nature of liver disease or the duration of antigenaemia in the index cases.Eight affected relatives were apparently healthy carriers of HBAG, one had cirrhosis, and three (in the same family) developed acute viral hepatitis.The absence of parenteral exposure in the HBA,-positive family contacts and the identity in antigenic determinants d or y with those of the index cases, suggest a non-parenteral spread of HBAg in families of patients with HBAg-associated liver diseases.     

Serum Selenium Levels in Korean Hepatoma Patients

The aim of this study was to determine serum selenium (Se) levels during the development of liver disease as well as the possible Se supplementation benefits in liver disease patients. Serum was collected from 187 patients with liver diseases and 120 normal healthy people living in Seoul. The samples were collected at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital College of Medicines, The Catholic University of Korea, in accordance with procedures approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Catholic University of Korea. Serum Se levels were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and were compared between healthy and liver diseases patients. Se levels were 92.65?±?32.50?μg/l in hepatitis infection, 92.33?±?30.66?μg/l in hepatitis B virus infection and 96.41?±?51.50?μg/l in hepatitis C virus infection, 96.42?±?32.80?μg/l in cirrhosis, and 67.47?±?14.30?μg/l in hepatoma patients. Findings were significantly lower in hepatitis and hepatoma as compared with the healthy participants (P?相似文献   

Replication Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in Co-Infected Patients in Chinese Population

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections contributes to a substantial proportion of liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and virological features of HBV-HCV co-infection.

Methods

Demographic data were collected for 3238 high-risk people from an HCV-endemic region in China. Laboratory tests included HCV antibody and HBV serological markers, liver function tests, and routine blood analysis. Anti-HCV positive samples were analyzed for HCV RNA levels and subgenotypes. HBsAg-positive samples were tested for HBV DNA.

Results

A total of 1468 patients had chronic HCV and/or HBV infections. Among them, 1200 individuals were classified as HCV mono-infected, 161 were classified as HBV mono-infected, and 107 were classified as co-infected. The HBV-HCV co-infected patients not only had a lower HBV DNA positive rate compared to HBV mono-infected patients (84.1% versus 94.4%, respectively; P<0.001). The median HCV RNA levels in HBV-HCV co-infected patients were significantly lower than those in the HCV mono-infected patients (1.18[Interquartile range (IQR) 0–5.57] versus 5.87[IQR, 3.54–6.71] Log₁₀ IU/mL, respectively; P<0.001). Furthermore, co-infected patients were less likely to have detectable HCV RNA levels than HCV mono-infected patients (23.4% versus 56.5%, respectively; P<0.001). Those HBV-HCV co-infected patients had significantly lower median HBV DNA levels than those mono-infected with HBV (1.97[IQR, 1.3–3.43] versus 3.06[IQR, 2–4.28] Log₁₀ IU/mL, respectively; P<0.001). The HBV-HCV co-infection group had higher ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, APRI and FIB-4 levels, but lower ALB and total platelet compared to the HBV mono-infection group, and similar to that of the HCV mono-infected group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that co-infection with HCV and HBV inhibits the replication of both viruses. The serologic results of HBV-HCV co-infection in patients suggests more liver injury compared to HBV mono-infected patients, but is similar to HCV mono-infection.     

乙肝患者血清标志物与肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性分析

目的:探讨乙肝患者血清标志物与肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性。方法:收集我院收治的136例乙型病毒肝炎患者,根据轻中重程度分为轻度组、中度组以及重度组,每组42例。观察并比较所有患者乙肝血清标志物、HBV-DNA水平、透明质酸(HA),血清Ⅲ型前胶原肽(PCⅢ),Ⅳ型胶原(CIV)水平以及层粘连蛋白(LN)水平。结果:三组患者的HBV-DNA水平依次升高,与轻度组相比,中度组、重度组患者HBV-DNA水平较高,与中度组患者相比,重度组患者HBV-DNA水平较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。与轻度组相比,中度组、重度组患者HA、PCⅢ、CIV、LN水平较高,与中度组患者相比,重度组患者HA、PCⅢ水平较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);HBV-DNA水平与HA、PCⅢ、CIV、LN水平均呈显著正相关。结论:乙肝患者的血清学检测指标与血清肝纤维化测定有助于对乙肝的纤维化过程的进展情况进行评估。     

Reduced Serum Selenium Concentration in Miscarriage Incidence of Indonesian Subjects

Selenium is an essential nutrient for human health, and maternal selenium concentration has been reported to be associated with pregnancy outcome. To further investigate the possible role of selenium (Se) in miscarriage, we conducted a case–control study to evaluate the correlations among selenium status, glutathione peroxidase activity, and spontaneous abortion. A total of 46 subjects with normal pregnancies and 25 subjects with spontaneous abortion were recruited, and their serum selenium concentrations and serum glutathione peroxidase activities were analyzed. The total serum selenium concentrations in subjects with normal pregnancies were significantly higher than those of subjects with spontaneous abortion; however, the glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in both groups. We further separated the subjects into smoking and nonsmoking groups, and the logistic regression analysis suggested that total serum selenium concentration, but not serum glutathione peroxidase activity or smoking, was significantly correlated with the incidence of miscarriage. The present study thus reaffirms that low serum selenium levels are associated with miscarriage and that selenium plays an important role in pregnancy maintenance.     

Evaluation of Fucosylated Haptoglobin and Mac-2 Binding Protein as Serum Biomarkers to Estimate Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Fucosylated haptoglobin (Fuc-Hpt) and Mac-2 binding protein (Mac-2 bp) are identified as cancer biomarkers, based on the results from a glyco-proteomic analysis. Recently, we reported that these glyco-biomarkers were associated with liver fibrosis and/or ballooning hepatocytes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated the ability of these glycoproteins to estimate liver fibrosis in 317 patients with chronic hepatitis C. We measured the serum Fuc-Hpt and Mac-2 bp levels using a lectin-antibody ELISA and ELISA, respectively. The serum levels of both Fuc-Hpt and Mac-2 bp increased with the progression of liver fibrosis. The multivariate analysis revealed that Mac-2 bp was an independent factor associated with moderate liver fibrosis (F ≥ 2). In contrast, Fuc-Hpt was an independent factor associated with advanced liver fibrosis (F ≥ 3). In terms of evaluating liver fibrosis, the serum levels of these glycomarkers were correlated with well-known liver fibrosis indexes, such as the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index. An assay that combined the APRI or FIB4 index and the Fuc-Hpt or Mac-2 bp levels increased the AUC value for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis. Interestingly, the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was significantly higher in the patients with elevated serum levels of Fuc-Hpt and Mac-2 bp. In conclusion, both Fuc-Hpt and Mac-2 bp could be useful glyco-biomarkers of liver fibrosis and predictors of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C.