Prognostic molecular markers in pediatric liver disease – Are there any?

Pediatric liver disease (PLD) is a major cause of severe morbidity and prolonged hospitalizations in children. Stratifying patients in terms of prognosis remains challenging. The limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms causing and accompanying PLD remains the main obstacle in a search for reliable prognostic biomarkers. A systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed and Embase via OVID was conducted on studies published between August 2007 and August 2017. Molecular markers with a prognostic potential in terms of survival, need for liver transplantation or disease progression/regression were selected. In general, identified studies were single center smaller case-control studies or case series with a low level of evidence and a high risk of bias. Only 23 studies comprising 898 patients could be included, mostly focusing on biliary atresia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and LT; and markers related to morphogenesis and fibrosis. Furthermore, molecular markers in metabolic pathways and inflammation shown to be relevant, however requiring further validation. Hence, further biological and clinical studies are needed to gain greater molecular insight into PLD.     

胆道支架置入联合介入化疗对恶性胆道梗阻患者肝功能及预后的影响

目的:研究胆道支架置入联合介入化疗对恶性胆道梗阻患者肝功能及预后的影响,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:选取2013年2月到2015年2月我院收治的恶性胆道梗阻患者90例,按照随机数字表法将患者分为Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组,每组30例,Ⅰ组给予胆道支架置入联合介入化疗,Ⅱ组给予单纯胆道支架置入,Ⅲ组给予保守治疗,比较三组治疗前、后肝功能、并发症、支架通畅率及生存期。结果:治疗前三组谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、γ-谷氨酰转移酶(r-GT)比较无统计学意义(P0.05),治疗后Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组AST、ALT和r-GT均显著改善,与治疗前和Ⅲ组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),且I组显著优于Ⅱ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),Ⅲ组治疗后AST、ALT和r-GT与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组并发症发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05);Ⅰ组术后3个月、6个月和12个月支架通畅率均显著高于Ⅱ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);I组生存期显著高于Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组,Ⅱ组高于Ⅲ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:胆道支架置入联合介入化疗治疗恶性胆道梗阻具有较好效果,能明显改善患者肝功,延长患者生存期。     

Mucin-associated T antigens in benign and malignant epithelium of the gall bladder,extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla of Vater

The mucin-associated antigens Tn, sialosyl-Tn (STn), T and sialosyl-T (STAg) antigens accumulate through aberrant and incomplete glycosylation in malignant epithelial cells. Their diagnostic and prognostic significance in tumours of the colon and cervix has been described, and a possible role for Tn antigen in cell-to-cell adhesion has been suggested. These antigens have been demonstrated through peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectin binding and more recently using specific monoclonal antisera. Differences between the two methods have been described, which may be due to fixation schedules and/or specificity. We have investigated the effect of fixation on the binding of biotinylated PNA lectin and compared its reactivity with the immunoreactivity of monoclonal antisera to Tn, STn, T and STAg antigens in benign and malignant epithelium of the gall bladder, extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla of Vater. We found that short-term fixation in formol sublimate resulted in poor PNA binding. All other tested fixation schedules showed strong perinuclear binding, similar to that found on cryostat sections. When compared with monoclonal antisera, PNA binding demonstrated the lowest specificity in benign epithelium. In both benign and malignant epithelium, the two methods cannot substitute for each other. STn and STAg antigens were found to be oncodevelopmental throughout the extrahepatic biliary tract. When used in a panel, they are useful as diagnostic markers of malignancy in gall bladder epithelium.     

Advances in microRNAs: implications for immunity and inflammatory diseases

Since their discovery in 1993 and the introduction of the term microRNA in 2001, it has become evident that microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in many biological processes, including development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. The function of miRNA the control of protein production in cells by sequence-specific targeting of mRNAs for translational repression or mRNA degradati Interestingly, immune genes are apparently preferentially targeted by miRNAs compared to the average of the human genome, indicat the significance of miRNA-mediated regulation for normal immune responses. Here, we review what is known about the role of miRN in the pathogenesis of immune-related diseases such as chronic inflammatory skin diseases, autoimmunity and viral infections.     

Immuno-isolation and culture of biliary epithelial cells from normal human liver

Summary Biliary epithelial cells (BEC) lining the intra-hepatic biliary ducts are the site of damage in several immunologically mediated liver diseases. BEC are difficult to isolate since they represent only 5% of the total cell number in normal liver. In this communication, a novel method for their isolation from normal liver is presented using a monoclonal antibody (HEA125) with specificity for an epithelial cell surface glyco-protein reported to be expressed in liver only by biliary epithelium. By combining differential density centrifugation and immuno-magnetic separation using HEA125 pure BEC (10⁵ cells/g fresh tissue) were prepared routinely. These cells were maintained in culture for up to 4 weeks with significant increases in cell numbers. The ability to prepare BEC from human liver offers an opportunity to develop In Vitro models to investigate the aetiology of diseases in intra-hepatic biliary epithelium. EDITOR’S STATEMENT This is a novel application to purification of specific liver cell types directly from tissue. It is well-suited for rapid communication because of its novelty and potential utility to investigators.     

Quantitative Detection of 15 Serum Bile Acid Metabolic Products by LC/MS/MS in the Diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

To determine 15 bile acid metabolic products in human serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and value their diagnostic outcome in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Serum from 20 healthy controls and 26 patients with PBC were collected and went LC/MS/MS analysis of 15 bile acid metabolic products. The test results were analyzed by bile acid metabolomics, and the potential biomarkers were screened and their diagnostic performance was judged by statistical methods such as principal component and partial least squares discriminant analysis and area under curve (AUC). 8 differential metabolites can be screened out: Deoxycholic acid (DCA), Glycine deoxycholic acid (GDCA), Lithocholic acid (LCA), Glycine ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), Taurolithocholic acid (TLCA), Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), Taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), Glycine chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA). The performance of the biomarkers was evaluated by the AUC, specificity and sensitivity. In conclusion, DCA, GDCA, LCA, GUDCA, TLCA, TUDCA, TDCA and GCDCA were identified as eight potential biomarkers to distinguish between healthy people and PBC patients by multivariate statistical analysis, which provided reliable experimental basis for clinical practice.     

Emperipolesis mediated by CD8+ T cells correlates with biliary epithelia cell injury in primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic destruction of the bile ducts. A major unanswered question regarding the pathogenesis of PBC is the precise mechanisms of small bile duct injury. Emperipolesis is one of cell‐in‐cell structures that is a potential histological hallmark associated with chronic hepatitis B. This study aimed to clarify the pathogenesis and characteristics of emperipolesis in PBC liver injury. Sixty‐six PBC patients, diagnosed by liver biopsy combined with laboratory test, were divided into early‐stage PBC (stages I and II, n = 39) and late‐stage PBC (stages III and IV, n = 27). Emperipolesis was measured in liver sections stained with haematoxylin‐eosin. The expressions of CK19, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, Ki67 and apoptosis of BECs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence double labelling. Emperipolesis was observed in 62.1% of patients with PBC, and BECs were predominantly host cells. The number of infiltrating CD3⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells correlated with the advancement of emperipolesis (R² = 0.318, P < .001; R² = 0.060, P < .05). The cell numbers of TUNEL‐positive BECs and double staining for CK19 and Ki67 showed a significant positive correlation with emperipolesis degree (R² = 0.236, P < .001; R² = 0.267, P < .001). We conclude that emperipolesis mediated by CD8⁺ T cells appears to be relevant to apoptosis of BEC and thus may aggravate the further injury of interlobular bile ducts.     

Effect of micellar lipids on rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane phospholipid bilayer integrity studied by31P NMR

Summary The effect of biliary salts and fatty acids on the bilayer structure of rabbit intestinal brush-border membranes was studied using the nonperturbing probe³¹P NMR. The broad. asymmetric lineshape of the³¹P NMR spectrum of isolated brush-border vesicles demostrates that their component phospholipids are organized in extended bilayers. These membranes are not significantly perturbed by incubation with physiological concentrations of biliary salts (3, 9, 18mm), demonstrating that the vesicles are highly stable, corresponding to their biological function. However, the emergence of a narrow peak superimposed on the broad lineshape indicates that a small proportion of the membrane phospholipids has reached isotropic motion, which may correspond to external or internal micellar structures. Incubation with mixed micelles of fatty acids and taurochlorate show that long-chain fatty acids enhance the membrane-perturbing effect of taurocholate while short-chain, watersoluble fatty acids do not, suggesting a difference in the absorption mechanisms.     

Molecular distribution of zinc in biliary and pancreatic secretions

Rat bile and pancreatic fluid were examined for the presence of low molecular weight zinc complexes. Fluids were collected separately by cannulation, and zinc distribution in collected samples was analyzed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. Most of the zinc in bile was associated with low molecular weight zinc complexes; only a small amount of zinc was present in the high molecular weight fraction. In contrast, pancreatic secretions did not contain low molecular weight zinc complexes, but there were considerable amounts of zinc bound to high molecular weight compounds. The addition of zinc to bile resulted in an increased amount of zinc in the low molecular weight fraction, while the addition of zinc to pancreatic fluid resulted primarily in an increase in zinc bound to the high molecular weight components. Like pancreatic fluid, homogenates of pancreatic tissue had no low molecular weight zinc complex. In rats whose bile and pancreatic fluid were removed and not returned into the intestine, the amount of zinc bound to low molecular weight complexes in intestinal homogenates was reduced. This alteration of the molecular distribution of zinc in intestinal homogenates by removal of bile and pancreatic fluid suggests the potential importance of low molecular weight zinc complexes for zinc homeostasis.     

胆囊结石患者结石形态学特征及血浆脂多糖水平与急性胆源性胰腺炎的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨胆囊结石患者结石形态学特征及血浆脂多糖（LPS）水平与急性胆源性胰腺炎（ABP）的关系。方法：选取2015年10月~2018年9月期间武汉大学人民医院收治的胆囊结石患者164例为研究对象,分析结石形态学特征与并发ABP的关系,同时采用Logistic回归分析ABP发生的危险因素。将所有患者根据LPS水平分为低LPS组（n=65,<10 pg/mL）以及高LPS组（n=99,≥10 pg/mL）,分析血浆LPS水平对不同结石大小、不同总胆固醇（TG）水平患者并发ABP的影响。结果：多发胆囊结石、球状结石、<3 mm结石、软碎型结石患者并发ABP的概率明显高于单发胆囊结石、不规则状结石或泥沙状结石、3~10 mm结石或>10 mm结石、硬型结石或胶冻型结石（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示,多发胆囊结石、球状结石、<3 mm结石以及软碎型结石均是ABP发生的高危因素（P<0.05）。当患者处于高TG水平时,高LPS组并发ABP的概率高于低LPS组（P<0.05）,在细小结石患者中,高LPS组并发ABP的概率高于低LPS组（P<0.05）。结论：依据结石形态学特征可对胆囊结石患者并发ABP的可能性作出早期的判断,同时血浆LPS水平升高是高TG以及细小胆囊结石患者易并发ABP的重要因素之一。