Serum Procollagen Type III N‐Terminal Peptides and Laminin P1 Peptide in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Abstract

The appearance of perivenular fibrosis on liver biopsy reflects the beginning of the fibrotic process that ultimately results in liver cirrhosis. To examine whether the fibrogenic activity can be detected by blood tests, we evaluated whole antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) of procollagen type III N-terminal peptides (P-III-P), RIA of these peptides using Fab fragments (Fab-P-III-P), and RIA of the laminin P1 peptide in alcoholics within 1 week of alcohol abstinence. The Fab-P-III-P levels in subjects with perivenular fibrosis were significantly higher than those in patients with simple fatty liver. Values in 63% of subjects with perivenular fibrosis exceeded the upper limit of the fatty liver group. Patients with simple fatty liver had significantly lower values than nonalcoholic controls. Serum levels of P-III-P and laminin were elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and correlated well with the degree of inflammation. With abstinence, Fab-P-III-P levels increased in all alcoholics. P-III-P values increased in patients with normal P-III-P values on admission. By contrast, the values of laminin decreased during abstinence. Therefore, to interpret serum levels of Fab-P-III-P, P-III-P, and laminin, the duration of abstinence must be taken into consideration. P-III-P, Fab-P-III-P and laminin measurements in the serum within 1 week of abstinence can contribute to the detection of alcoholic liver disease and the determination of its stage.

Serum concentrations of PIIINP aminopeptide in dogs with liver fibrosis

“…Based on the results, he concluded that patients who developed severe liver fibrosis had significantly higher concentrations of PIIINP (1208 ± 154 cpm/mg) than patients who did not develop liver fibrosis (734 ± 138 cpm/mg) (Torres-Salinas et al 1986). His findings were confirmed by other scientists in various research centers (Bentsen et al 1978, Nouchi et al 1987, Trinchet et al 1992, Oberti et al 1997, Tran et al 2000, Stickel et al 2001). However, we failed to find a correlation between the concentrations of PIIINP and the degree of liver damage in the available literature.…”

Diagnosis and Quantitation of Fibrosis

“…64,87,88 Reduction or normalization of PIIINP levels has been observed in those who abstain from alcohol. 89,90 In chronic HCV, PIIINP levels have not been shown to correlate with degree of fibrosis but do correlate with the scores for necrosis. 91,92 In patients receiving methotrexate, PIIINP appears to be a useful test for the evaluation of liver injury.…”

Emodin protects rat liver from CCl4-induced fibrogenesis via inhibition of hepatic stellate cells activation

“…Lobular inflammatory activity and severity of liver steatosis were determined according to the criteria of the Chinese Medical Association Committee of Fatty Liver Disease in 2006 and Nouchi et al [18,19] . [20] , which grades fibrosis on a five-point scale: Grade 0, no fibrosis; Grade 1, portal fibrosis without septa; Grade 2, portal fibrosis with a few septa; Grade 3, numerous septa without cirrhosis; and Grade 4, cirrhosis.…”