Relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α and liver fibrosis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To interstate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α and liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.

METHODS: Radioimmunoassay was made in 20 patients with mild chronic hepatitis (CMH), 20 patients with severe chronic hepatitis (CSH), 51 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 32-normal persons to determine the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), laminin-(LN) and hyaluronate (HA) in serum. The changes in and relationship between TNF-α, LN and HA were analyzed. The TNF-α and collagen III were determined using mmunohistochemical studies in liver tissues from 32 persons including 7 normal persons, 3 patients with MCH, 5 patients with SCH and 17 with LC.

RESULTS: TNF-α, LN and HA levels in serum of CSH and LC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (SCH: 1.11 ± 0.59, 130.7 ± 17.2, 219.1 ± 121.3; LC: 0.92 ± 0.66, 156.8 ± 31.7, 400.5 ± 183.7, P < 0.05-0.01), which increased gradually, and correlated positively with each other in all patients with liver diseases (n = 91, gamma= 0.3149, P < 0.01). TNF-α contents-showed a remarkably positive correlation with HA and LN levels in CMH and CSH (LN: n = 40, gamma = 0.3404, P < 0.05 HA: n = 40, gamma = 0.3847, P < 0.05). The total collagen content of MCH, SCH and LC increased gradually in liver biopsy specimens. The number of TNF-α positive cells increased significantly in liver tissues from patients with SCH and LC (62%; 45%; P < 0.01). TNF-α positive cells were mainly located in the periportal areas.

CONCLUSION: TNF-α may be related to liver fibrosis, and might promote liver fibrosis.

Key Words: Tumor necrosis factor/metabolism, Laminin/blood, Hyaluronic acid/blood, Liver cirrhosis/blood