| Serum hyaluronic acid Level: Correlation with quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model |
| Moon Young Kim, M.D., Soon Koo Baik, M.D., Yoon Ok Jang, M.D.,
Ki Tae Suk, M.D., Jae Woo Kim, M.D., Hyun Soo Kim, M.D.,
Mi Yun Cho, M.D.1, Sun Joo Choi, M.D.2, Soon Ho Um, M.D.3,
Kwang-Hyub Han, M.D.4 |
| Department of Internal Medicine, 1Pathology, 2Microbiology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea, 3Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, 4Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
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| ABSTRACT |
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Backgrounds
/Aims: The serum level of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been suggested as a useful serologic
marker for hepatic fibrosis. However, the relationship between serum HA levels and quantitative markers of
fibrosis from liver tissue has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation
between serum HA level and quantitative measurement of hepatic fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model. Methods:
Cirrhosis was produced by common bile duct ligation (BDL) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were
classified into four groups: (1) G1, sham operated (n=5); (2) G2, BDL for 2 weeks (n=6); (3) G3, BDL for 3
weeks (n=6); and (4) G4, BDL for 4 weeks (n=6). Hepatic fibrosis was analyzed histomorphologically using the
Batts and Ludwig scoring system. Serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content were quantified. The
gene expressions in the liver of procollagen, collagen, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were
measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: In groups G1, G2, G3, and G4, the
Batts and Ludwig scores (mean±SD) were 0, 1.3±0.5, 2.6±0.5, and 3.4±0.5, respectively (P<0.05), serum HA
levels were 12.5±3.2, 30.0±4.3, 228.6±157.7, and 391.3±207.7 ng/mL (P<0.05), and the concentration of
hydroxyproline was 12.4±2.8, 17.6±3.8, 17.9±2.4, and 33.4±3.4 μg/g liver tissue, and it was significantly
higher in group G4 than in the other groups (P<0.05). The gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, and
TGF-β1 in the liver were also significantly higher in group G4 compared with the other groups (P<0.05).
Direct linear correlations were observed between serum HA level and hepatic hydroxyproline content, hepatic
gene expressions of collagen, procollagen, TGF-β1, and histomorphological grade of hepatic fibrosis (P<0.001).
Conclusions
These results indicate that serum HA is a useful and noninvasive serologic marker for the
evaluation of advanced hepatic fibrosis. (Korean J Hepatol 2008;14:159-167) |
| KeyWords:
Hyaluronic Acid; Hepatic fibrosis; Bile duct ligation |
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