Serum markers of fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with alcoholism, with varying degrees of liver fibrosis

Abstract

In the serum of patients with alcoholism with varying degrees of severity of liver fibrosis were studied the content markers of fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction and proinflammatory cytokines. Concentration in blood indicators of fibrogenesis — collagen type 4, hyaluronic acid, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, YKL-40 and MMP-2 is considerably increased at the 4 degree of fibrosis and moderately increased at low and zero degrees of liver fibrosis. Similar results were obtained in respect of proinflammatory cytokines Il-6, IL-8, IL-12 / p70 and IL-12 / p40. The magnitude of endothelial dysfunction, calculated based on its content in the blood markers — VEGF-A, MCP-1, s-VCAM, s-ICAM and endothelin, was maximal at 4 degrees of fibrosis and less pronounced at low degrees of fibrosis. Correlations between of the average degree of fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, and blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines were installed. Close relation between the immune cells releasing stimulators of inflammation and fibrogenesis, perisinusoidal fat cells producing collagen, and endothelium secreting vasoconstrictors in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver fibrosis and cirrhosis was installed.