Molecular Serum Markers of Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

Fibrosis is a hallmark histologic event of chronic liver diseases and is characterized by the excessive accumulation and reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The gold standard for assessment of fibrosis is liver biopsy. As this procedure has various limitations, including risk of patient injury and sampling error, a non-invasive serum marker for liver fibrosis is desirable. The increasing understanding of the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis has suggested several markers which could be useful indicators of hepatic fibrogenesis and fibrosis. These markers include serum markers of liver function, ECM synthesis, fibrolytic processes, ECM degradation and fibrogenesis related cytokines. Recently, neo-epitopes, which are post-translational modifications of proteins, have been successfully used in bone and cartilage diseases which are characterized by extensive ECM remodeling. Increasing numbers of studies are being undertaken to identify neo-epitopes generated during liver fibrosis, and which ultimately might be useful for diagnosing and monitoring fibrogenesis. To date, the metalloproteinases generated fragment of collagen I, III, IV and VI have been proven to be elevated in two rat models of fibrosis. This review summarizes the recent efforts that have been made to identify potentially reliable non-invasive serum markers. We used the recently proposed BIPED (Burden of disease, Investigative, Prognostic, Efficacy and Diagnostic) system to characterize potential serum markers and neo-epitope markers that have been identified to date.

Revisiting the concept of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and its challenges using traditional and new tools

“…Serum markers are of great value not only in patients at risk for a liver biopsy but also as a part of the assessment of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis to avoid invasive methods 44,45 . Fibrosis is a nonspecifi c response to injuries that implies the synthesis of an extracellular matrix (ECM).…”

A bél–máj tengely vizsgálata colitis ulcerosában. Retrospektív tanulmány

“…Szükség lenne olyan nem invazív biomarker vagy pontrendszer rutingyakorlatba való átültetésére is, amely segítséget nyújtana a bélbetegségek során létrejö-vő májkárosodás diagnózisának, monitorozásának és prognózisának megítélésére [31][32][33][34][35][36].…”

Non-invasive Diagnostics of Liver Fibrosis

“…serum levels of hyaluronate may be infl uenced by the presence of renal failure); c) some of them may have been increased in extrahepatic fi brogenesis; d) there is a need for validation based on an international survey; e) they have limited value in assessing the development of complications such as esophageal varices and variceal bleeding. A key question in assessing new non-invasive biomarkers is their validation against the available gold standard (i.e liver biopsy) [11,17,18]. 3.…”

“…3. Types of biomarkers in liver fi brosis according to pathogenesis [18] Classifi cation of biomarkers for liver fi brosis Biomarkers are classifi ed by Perera and Weinstein. There are two main categories: a) Class I biomarkers for fi brosis or direct biomarkers.…”