Altered Amino Acid Metabolome in Patients affected by HBV cirrhosis at different stages

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the amino acid (AA) profile of serum samples from patients with compensated stage (CS) and decompensated stage (DS) of liver cirrhosis (LC). In particular, changes in AAs in different mood classes after categorizing patients with CS versus DS of LC according to mood class. METHODS: Using targeted metabolomics, serum AA levels were quantified in two populations: patients with CS (n=60) and patients with DS (n=44). We also analyzed serum AAs in 26 patients with CS and 24 patients with DS after classifying them according to mood class. RESULTS: In terms of AA levels, serum tyrosine, asparagine, dopamine, phenylalanine and methionine-sulfoxide levels were significantly increased in patients with DS compared to those with CS. In addition, asparagine and methionine-sulfoxide levels correlated with Child-Pugh classification in CS and DS patients; phenylalanine and tyrosine levels correlated with HBV-DNA levels. In terms of AA ratios, Fischer 's ratio, BTR, and BCAAs/AAA ratio were significantly increased in DS patients compared with CS patients. In contrast, tyrosine ratios were significantly lower. In addition, tyrosine ratio, Fischer 's ratio, BTR, and BCAAs/AAA levels were correlated with MELD score in both CS and DS patients; BCAAs/AAA ratio and Fischer 's ratio were correlated with mood score grade. CONCLUSION: The metabolic profiles of certain AAs in serum of patients with CS and DS of LC are different, which may help to detect the transition from CS to DS as early as possible and have implications for patient care and treatment decisions. In addition, the AA ratios varied with mood class, suggesting that mood factors may be influential in the progression of LC.