• 대한간학회지
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.392-401
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: Leptin is associated with metabolic disorders, which predispose one to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The role of leptin in NAFLD pathogenesis is not fully understood. We aim to investigate the association between serum leptin level and severity of NAFLD using U.S. nationally representative data. Methods: Data were obtained from the United States Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NAFLD was defined by ultrasound detection and severity of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other liver diseases. The severity of hepatic fibrosis was determined by NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). We used multivariate survey-weighted generalized logistic regression to evaluate the association between leptin level and the degree of NAFLD. We also performed subgroup analyses by body mass index (lean vs. classic NAFLD). Results: Among 4,571 people, 1,610 (35%) had NAFLD. By ultrasound findings, there were 621 people with mild, 664 with moderate, and 325 with severe steatosis. There were 885 people with low NFS (<-1.455, no significant fibrosis), 596 with intermediate NFS, and 129 with high NFS (>0.676, advanced fibrosis). Leptin levels for normal, mild, moderate and severe steatosis were $10.7{\pm}0.3ng/mL$, $12.1{\pm}0.7ng/mL$, $15.6{\pm}0.8ng/mL$, $16{\pm}1.0ng/mL$, respectively (trend P-value<0.001). Leptin levels for low, intermediate, and high NFS were $11.8{\pm}0.5ng/mL$, $15.6{\pm}0.8ng/mL$, $28.5{\pm}3.5ng/mL$, respectively (trend P-value<0.001). This association remained significant even after adjusting for known demographic and metabolic risk factors. In the subgroup analysis, this association was only prominent in classic NAFLD, but not in lean NAFLD. Conclusions: Serum leptin level is associated with the severity of NAFLD, especially in classic NAFLD patients.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.105-109
• /
• 2007

Alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna [TA] was evaluated far its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$)-induced hepatic damage in rats. The hepatoprotective activity of TA was evaluated by measuring levels of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP). The serum levels of total proteins(TP), total albumins (TAL) and bilirubin (BILN) were also estimated. The histological studies were also carried out to support the above parameters. Silymarin (SM) was used as standard drug. Administration of TA (250 and 500 mg/kg/po) markedly prevented CCl$_4$-induced elevation of levels of SGOT, SGPT, SALP, TP, TAL and BILN. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. Alcoholic extract of TA also shown significant in-vitro free radical scavenging activity against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. Thus, the present study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.275-277
• /
• 2012

Objective: The objective of our present study was to assess the efficacy of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for differentiating and diagnosis of pancreatic and liver diseases in Pokhara valley. Materials and methods: A hospital based retrospective study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal between 1st January, 2011 and 31st October, 2011. Estimation of CEA was performed by ELISA reader for all cases. Approval for the study was obtained from the institutional research ethical committee. Results: Of the 771 subjects, 208 (27%), 60(7.8%), 240(31.1%), 54(7.0%), 75(9.7%), 59(7.7%), 75(9.7%) cases were of active chronic hepatitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, hepatoma, acute or chronic pancreatitis, carcinoma of pancreas respectively. The majority of cases (104) of active chronic hepatitis had CEA levels <5ng/ml(50%). CEA levels were found to be increased in cases of alcoholic cirrhosis with maximum number of cases (106) in range of 10 to 20 ng/ml (44%). There were no cases having more than 20ng/ml of CEA in primary biliary cirrhosis and acute or chronic pancreatitis. In cases of pancreatic cancer, maximum number of cases (35) were having CEA >20ng/ml(47%). Conclusion: High levels of CEA are associated with advanced stage of disease. CEA can thus provide an important improvement in the diagnosis by differentiating pancreatic cancer especially from chronic pancreatitis when there is a high suspicion of malignancy. Increased CEA levels may also signify progression from benign to malignant transformation in the liver.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제21권12호
• /
• pp.1795-1803
• /
• 2011

현대인의 고지방 식습관과 당뇨와 비만인구 증가로 인한 비 알코올성 지방간(nonalcoholic fatty liver)의 유병률(prevalence rate)은 나날이 증가하고 있는 추세이며, 특히 남성과 폐경기 여성에게서 두드러진다. 이런 성 특이적(sex-specific) 간질환의 차이는 여성 호르몬인 에스트로겐(estrogen)의 보호 역할 때문일 것으로 추정되고 있으나, 에스트로겐의 보호 기작을 포함한 지방간의 만성 간질환으로의 진행 메커니즘이 규명되어 있지 않기 때문에 간질환의 효과적인 예방 및 치료책이 없는 실정이다. 그런데 최근에 간 섬유화(fibrosis)를 포함한 만성 간질환의 진행에서 헤지호그(hedgehog) 신호전달계가 주요한 역할을 함이 보고되면서 손상된 간의 회복과 간질환 진행메커니즘 조절을 위한 연구대상으로서 주목 받고 있다. 헤지호그는 발생 및 분화를 조절하는 모포젠(morphogen)으로 성인의 건강한 간에서는 발현되지 않으나, 손상된 간에서 손상 정도에 비례하게 재 발현되며, 섬유화 유발세포인 근섬유아세포(myofibroblasts) 및 간 줄기세포(hepatic progenitor cells)의 활성 및 증식인자로 작용하여 지나친 간 섬유화를 일으킨다. 이에 반해, 에스트로겐은 간 성상세포(hepatic stellate cells)가 근섬유아세포로 활성화되는 것을 억제함으로써 간 섬유화를 막는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 간 섬유화에 대한 헤지호그와 에스트로겐의 상반된 역할 사이의 관련성은 아직 밝혀지지 않고 있으나, 간 섬유화 유발 물질인 오스테오폰틴(osteopontin) 발현에 대한 에스트로겐의 억제효과와 헤지호그에 의한 오스테오폰틴 발현 유도는 오스테오폰틴에 의해 매개되는 에스트로겐과 헤지호그 신호전달계 사이의 연관성을 시사한다. 따라서, 에스트로겐에 의한 헤지호그 신호전달계 조절 메커니즘을 규명하는 것은 간질환 환자에서의 간 섬유화 및 만성 질환으로의 진행을 억제할 수 있는 치료제 개발에 대한 기초 지식을 제공할 수 있다. 이를 위해 간 섬유화에 대한 헤지호그와 에스트로겐의 역할을 확실하게 이해하고, 상호 관련성 및 조절 기작을 밝히는 연구가 선행되어야 할 것이다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제53권6호
• /
• pp.317-322
• /
• 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases. NAFLD can further progress to irreversible liver failure such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, specific regulator of NASH-fibrosis has yet to be established. Here, we found that glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPx7) was markedly expressed in NASH fibrosis. Although GPx7 is an antioxidant enzyme protecting other organs, whether GPx7 plays a role in NASH fibrosis has yet to be studied. We found that knockdown of GPx7 in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and free fatty acids (FFA)-treated LX-2 cells elevated the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes and collagen synthesis. Consistently, GPx7 overexpression in LX-2 cells led to the suppression of ROS production and reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes. Further, NASH fibrosis induced by choline-deficient amino acid defined, high fat diet (CDAHFD) feeding was significantly accelerated by knockdown of GPx7, as evidenced by up-regulated liver fibrosis and inflammation compared with CDAHFD control mice. Collectively, these results suggest that GPx7 might be a novel therapeutic target to prevent the progression and development of NAFLD.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제55권3호
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2012

최근 주류 섭취 시 숙취와 관련이 있는 성분인 아세트알데히드, 메탄올 및 퓨젤유를 포함한 휘발성 유해성분에 대한 관심이 증가하고 있다. 또한, 이들 성분들은 과음 시 간질환 및 암을 유발할 수도 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 아세트알데히드는 주류에서 발견되는 휘발성 성분이며 많은 식품에서 향미소재로 사용되고 있으나, 인체에 발암가능 물질로 분류되기도 한다. 특히, 알코올과 같이 섭취 시에는 1급 발암물질로 분류되고 있다. 메탄올은 알코올 발효 중 펙틴 분해 효소에 의해 팩틴의 demethoxylation 기작으로 생성된다. 이에 비해 퓨젤유는 알코올 발효의 부산물로 생성되며, 주류의 주요한 향미성분으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 주류에 포함되어 있는 휘발성 유해성분들이 건강에 미치는 영향, 이들의 최대허용함량 및 다양한 주류에서의 실제 함량, 그리고, 이들의 분석방법에 대해 고찰하였다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제44권6호
• /
• pp.815-822
• /
• 2020

Background: Recently, beneficial roles of ginsenoside F2 (GF2), a minor constituent of Panax ginseng, have been demonstrated in diverse inflammatory diseases. However, its roles in alcoholic liver inflammation and injury have not been clearly understood. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism by which GF2 ameliorated alcoholic liver injury. Methods: To induce alcoholic liver injury, C57BL/6J wild type (WT) or interleukin (IL)-10 knockout (KO) mice were orally administered with ethanol (3 g/kg) or ethanol-containing GF2 (50 mg/kg) for 2 wk. Liver injury and infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils were evaluated by serum biochemistry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The changes of hepatic immune cells were assessed by flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction analysis. In vitro differentiation of naïve T cells was performed. Results: GF2 treatment significantly attenuated alcoholic liver injury, in which infiltrations of inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils were decreased. Moreover, the frequencies of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) increased but IL-17-producing T (Th17) cells decreased in GF2-treated mice compared to controls. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 was significantly increased, whereas IL-17 mRNA expression was suppressed in GF2-treated mice. However, these beneficial roles of GF2 were not observed in GF2-treated IL-10 KO mice, suggesting a critical role of IL-10. Similarly, GF2 treatment suppressed differentiation of naïve T cells into Th17 cells by inhibiting RORgt expression and stimulating Foxp3 expression. Conclusion: The present study suggests that GF2 treatment attenuates alcoholic liver injury by increasing IL-10 expression and Tregs and decreasing IL-17 expression and Th17 cells.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.198-205
• /
• 2022

본 연구에서는 경증 또는 중등도 간기능 이상 소견자를 대상으로 ESE의 간기능 개선 효과를 평가하기 위해 시험식품군과 대조식품군으로 나누어 단일기관, 위약대조, 무작위배정, 이중눈가림 평행 인체적용시험으로 연구를 수행하였다. 12주간 ESE 420 mg(210 mg/포, 1일 2회)을 함유한 시험식품 또는 대조식품을 섭취하였을 때 ESE의 간 기능 개선 유효성과 안전성을 평가하였다. 유효성 평가 결과, 섭취 후 시험식품군은 대조식품군과 비교하여 ALT, AST, γ-GT 수준이 유의하게 감소하였다. 반면, 지질대사 지표는 두 군간의 의미 있는 차이를 보이지 않았다. 또한, 비알콜성 시험대상자군을 대상으로 분석하였을 때도 ALT 및 AST 수준이 유의하게 감소하였으며 γ-GT의 경우 감소하는 경향성을 보였다. 안전성 평가로서 혈액, 소변, 활력 징후를 검사한 결과 대부분 항목에서 시험식품군과 대조식품군 군간 차이가 없었으며 몇몇 유의성이 나타난 지표도 임상적 의미는 없었다. 따라서 ESE는 간기능 개선에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 보이며 안전한 식품 소재로 판단된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권18호
• /
• pp.8377-8382
• /
• 2016

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate any association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) (rs738409, C>G) and the development and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Two hundred heathy controls and 388 HCC cases were included: 211 with HBV, 98 patients with HCV, 29 with alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and 52 with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The SNP was determined by real-time PCR based on TaqMan assays. Results: The prevalence of rs738409 genotypes CC, CG and GG in controls was 91 (45.5%), 88 (44.0%), and 21 (10.5%), respectively, while the corresponding genotypes in all patients with HCC was 158 (40.7%), 178 (45.9%), and 52 (13.4%). The GG genotype had significantly higher distribution in patients with ASH/NASH-related HCC compared with controls (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.16-4.71, P=0.018), and viral-related HCC cases (OR=2.15, 95% CI=1.13-4.08, P=0.020). However, the frequency of the GG genotype was similar between controls and patients with viral-related HCC. At initial diagnosis, HBV-related HCC were larger and at more advanced BCLC stage than the other HCC groups. There were no significant differences between the GG and non-GG groups regarding clinical characteristics, tumor stage and overall survival. Conclusions: These data suggest an influence of the PNPLA3 polymorphism on the occurrence of HCC in patients with ASH/NASH but not among those with chronic viral hepatitis. However, the polymorphism was not associated with the prognosis of HCC.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국생물공학회 2003년도 생물공학의 동향(XIII)
• /
• pp.214-218
• /
• 2003

Alcohol consumption causes numerous consequences on the health of the human body. Heavy drinking on a daily base has caused liver diseases. Furthermore, some products such as acetaldehyde produced from alcohol metabolism are more toxic than alcohol itself. This study was carried out to evaluate the role of Lactobacillus casei on alcohol metabolism, especially, the removal of the toxic effect of alcohol. The maximum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities from L. casei were observed at 4 hr of culture. L. casei was confirmed to produce the ADH and ALDH by the SDS-PAGE. From in vivo test using SD rats with 22% alcoholic drink, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) of the rats feeding the medium containing L. casei were lower than those of the rats feeding the medium containing an alcoholic drink only This demonstrates that the ADH and ALDH produced by L. casei have virtual functions to detoxicate the alcohol in vivo and the fermentation broth of L. casei can be used as an alcohol detoxification drink.