Expression of HSP47 in liver tissue and sera of infants with biliary atresia and its correlation with the degree of liver fibrosis and prognosis

Abstract

Objective To explore the expression of HSP47 in liver tissue and sera of infants of biliary atresia (BA) and examine the relationship between HSP47 and liver fibrosis. Methods Liver tissue and peripheral blood were collected from infants of BA (n=30), intrahepatic cholestasis (n=10) and bile duct cyst (n=10). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were employed for comparing the mRNA and protein expressions of HSP47 in BA patients and controls.According to the Okhuma's staging criteria for liver fibrosis, we observed liver slides were observed microscopically and the inter-group degrees of liver fibrosis compared.Also enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for comparing the serum level of HSP47 in each group and analyzing its relationship with liver fibrosis in BA. Results In liver tissue of BA, the expressions of HSP47 at the levels of mRNA (0.915±0.730 vs 0.066±0.037 vs 0.314±0.150, P<0.05), protein (3.0618 1±0.504 763 vs 1.358 018±0.373 174 vs 1.236 49±0.350 173, P<0.05) and sera (63.38±17.11 vs 57.87±14.83 vs 45.78±11.23, P<0.05) were both higher than those of intrahepatic cholestasis and bile duct cyst.Positive correlations existed in the expression of HSP47 at the levels of mRNA, protein and sera (mRNA vs protein, r=0.836, P<0.05; protein vs sera, r=0.989, P<0.01; mRNA vs serum, r=0.883, P<0.05). And the serum expression of HSP47 was positively correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis (r=0.669, P<0.01). Conclusions The expression of HSP47 in liver tissue was consistent with its serum expression.And there was a positive correlation with the degree of liver fibrosis.It could predict the degree of liver fibrosis in BA.Overexpression of serum HSP47 was a poor prognostic factor for BA. Key words: Biliary atresia; Heat-shock protein 47; Liver fibrosis; Prognosis