Association of Low Serum Maresin-1 Levels with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Liver.

Background: Maresin-1 (MaR1) is a macrophage-derived antiinflammatory lipid mediator that negatively regulates oxidative and proinflammatory cytokines and also restores integrity in various tissues after inflammation. Non-resolving inflammation is known to have an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of MaR1 in pathogenesis and early diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: The study was conducted in 102 participants, including 30 volunteers with no hepatic disease, 39 patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and 33 patients with HCC that developed additionally to cirrhosis. Serum MaR1 levels of all participants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: There was a significant difference between the circulating MaR1 levels of the three groups. MaR1 level was found to be significantly lower in the HCC group compared to the cirrhotic group (p < 0.001) and in the cirrhotic group compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.001). MaR1 level was independently associated with cirrhosis (vs. controls, OR: 0.995, p = 0.025) and with HCC (vs. controls, OR: 0.962, p = 0.035; and vs. cirrhotic patients, OR: 0.987, p = 0.006). ROC analyses demonstrated that MaR1 levels of < 311.66 had 72.73% sensitivity and 100% specificity for HCC differentiation from controls, while a < 428.08 cutoff had 96.97% sensitivity and 38.46% specificity for differentiation from cirrhotic patients.

Conclusions: Serum MaR1 levels were significantly decreased in patients with HCC, compared to those with normal or cirrhotic hepatic tissue. Therefore, MaR1 may possibly be a valuable biomarker in the early diagnosis of HCC and in the differential diagnosis of HCC from cirrhosis.