Angiopoietin-like protein-2 and IL-17 Association with Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver with condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is a mediator of chronic inflammation that contributes to extracellular matrix remodeling. This study aims to explore the predictive value of Angptl2 as a novel biomarker of liver histology and evaluate the association of Angptl2 and IL-17 with the degree of liver fibrosis. Hepatitis B patients with normal to minimally raised ALT were recruited. Serum Angptl2 and IL-17 levels were detected by using commercial ELISA kit. Liver histology was evaluated by the Ishak scoring system. A highly significant increase of ANGPL2 and IL-17 were observed in sera of chronic hepatitis B patients in comparison to that of control group, while non-significant increases of ANGLP2 and IL-17 with fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis B were indicated. Angptl2 and IL-17 were found to be increased with increasing degrees of liver fibrosis. This suggests that ANGPL2 and IL-17 may not only induce the inflammation, but also contribute to disease progression of fibrosis and chronicity.