Role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the Relationship between Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Apoptosis during Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Diagnostic Significance of Plasma Levels of Their Active Forms.

MMP-2 and MMP-9 play an important role in pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases, participating in the processes of inflammation and fibrosis. Their role in progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is poorly understood. Analysis of MMP-2, -9 levels in the blood plasma of patients with different forms of NAFLD [liver steatosis (LS) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) of weak (-WA), moderate (MA), high (-HA) activity without pronounced fibrosis] was performed.

Blood Level of Nitric Oxide Metabolites and Expression of Genes Regulating NO Synthesis in Early Forms of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

The levels of NO metabolites in the plasma and mRNA of the NOS3, ATG9B, and NOS2 genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy people and patients with early forms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis and weak activity non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) were studied. In patients with steatohepatitis, the concentration of NO metabolites in the blood and the level of mRNA of the NOS2 gene were higher than in patients with steatosis and healthy people. These differences can be of diagnostic value for distinguishing between steatosis and weak activity steatohepatitis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The Role of the Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor in the Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

The blood level of soluble IL-6 receptor was measured in patients with different clinical and morphological forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and healthy donors. The relationship of the soluble IL-6 receptor with the content of IL-6, the level of the IL6 gene mRNA, and a number of markers of hepatocyte and peripheral blood leukocyte apoptosis was assessed. It has been established for the first time that progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with changes in the level of soluble IL-6 receptor in the blood.

Hepatocytic Apoptosis and Immune Dysfunction in Decompensation of Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis with Different Grades of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) of varying grades was assessed in 110 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis using the on-line CLIF-C ACLF Calculator ( www.efclif.com/scientific-activity/score-calculators/clif-c-aclf ); fragments of cytokeratin-18, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 were also assayed.

Role of Bacterial Infection in the Development of Acute Liver Failure in Patients with Decompensated Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis.

We examined 74 patients with acute decompensation of alcoholic liver cirrhosis: 34 (45.9%) with bacterial infection (group 1) and 40 (54.1%) without bacterial infection (group 2).