Current Trends of Essential Trace Elements in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

Abstract

Essential trace elements play crucial roles in the maintenance of health, since they are involved in many metabolic pathways. A deficiency or an excess of some trace elements, including zinc, selenium, iron, and copper, frequently causes these metabolic disorders such as impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia. The liver largely regulates most of the metabolism of trace elements, and accordingly, an impairment of liver functions can result in numerous metabolic disorders. The administration or depletion of these trace elements can improve such metabolic disorders and liver dysfunction. Recent advances in molecular biological techniques have helped to elucidate the putative mechanisms by which liver disorders evoke metabolic abnormalities that are due to deficiencies or excesses of these trace elements. A genome-wide association study revealed that a genetic polymorphism affected the metabolism of a specific trace element. Gut dysbiosis was also responsible for impairment of the metabolism of a trace element. This review focuses on the current trends of four trace elements in chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune liver diseases. The novel mechanisms by which the trace elements participated in the pathogenesis of the chronic liver diseases are also mentioned.

Changes in Glutathione Content in Liver Diseases: An Update

“…Another way for HBx to induce oxidative stress is the suppression of proteins indirectly involved in the antioxidant defence, as observed in HBx-transfected HepG2 cells for the inhibition of selenoprotein P (SeP) [276] and in HBV-transgenic mice for selenium-binding protein 2 (Selenbp2) [274]. These data, in addition to low selenium content in HBV patients [277], exacerbate liver damage, hindering the activity of GPx, GST and thioredoxin reductase. However, as seen previously for HCV, the genotype affects the induced pathway.…”

Serum Selenium Status as a Diagnostic Marker for the Prognosis of Liver Transplantation

“…The liver is of central relevance for trace element metabolism, in particular for controlling copper, iron, selenium (Se) and zinc homoeostasis [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Under inflammatory conditions, several converging pathways contribute to declining serum Se status, in part via reduced biosynthesis of the Se transport protein selenoprotein P (SELENOP) in hepatocytes as part of the negative acute phase response (APR) [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…The central role of the liver for an undisturbed Se metabolism and Se status within normal reference ranges is supported by analyses of patients with liver disease [ 1 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Cirrhotic or fibrotic liver tissue causes reduced serum Se concentrations, and a recent report indicated a gradual decrease of serum SELENOP concentrations in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) [ 19 ].…”

Serum Selenium Status as Diagnostic Marker for Prognosis in Liver Transplantation

“…The central role of the liver for an undisturbed Se metabolism and Se status within normal reference ranges is supported by analyses of patients with liver disease [1,[16][17][18]. Cirrhotic or fibrotic liver tissue causes reduced serum Se concentrations, and a recent report indicated a gradual decrease of serum SELENOP concentrations in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) [19].…”

“…The liver is of central relevance for trace element metabolism, in particular for controlling copper, iron, selenium (Se) and zinc homoeostasis [1][2][3]. Under inflammatory conditions, several converging pathways contribute to declining serum Se status, in part via reduced biosynthesis of the Se transport protein selenoprotein P (SELENOP) in hepatocytes as part of the negative acute phase response (APR) [4][5][6][7].…”