Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), a protein producedApolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), a 28-kd protein, is synmainly by hepatocytes, is decreased in the sera of alco-thesized mainly by hepatocytes. It is the major protein holic patients with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. To ex-of the high-density lipoproteins. These particles are inplain this decrease, we investigated possible interac-volved in the reverse transport of cholesterol, a process tions between liver extracellular matrix (ECM) and Apo that promotes cholesterol efflux from cells to the liver. 1 A-I. Using a solid-phase binding assay, we evaluated the Apo A-I is a marker of atheromatous disease, and its binding of Apo A-I to the different liver matrix compo-decrease in serum is correlated with a higher risk of The mechanisms of serum Apo A-I decrease in liver urable. Apo A-I bound also to ECM in vivo because Apo fibrosis are unknown, but it has been shown that serum A-I was detected by immunofluorescence on fibrous Apo A-I measurement alone 4 or in correlation with septa in liver biopsy specimens of alcoholic patients. Be-other biological data such as prothrombin time and gcause a negative correlation between Apo A-I and liver glutamyl transferase (PGA score) 5 can serve as a fibrosis is amplified in alcoholic patients, we investi-marker of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in alcoholic pa- argument is that lipoproteins can be extracted from vessels only in association with constituents of the ECM. 8 The ECM is a multimolecular complex that forms a network between cells, and expansion of the ECM is Abbreviations: Apo A-I, apolipoprotein A-I; ECM, extracellular matrix; the hallmark of fibrosis. In the liver, the matrix is made SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; FN, up of proteins, glycoconjugates, and carbohydrate polyfibronectin; C, collagen; Ig, immunoglobulin; BSA, bovine serum albumin; mers. 9 Because of its multiple components and their EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic where they are stored. [13][14][15] Copyright ᭧ 1996 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Acetaldehyde, the first oxidative metabolite of ethaDiseases.