Research progress on drug-induced liver injury and its biological markers

Abstract

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a serious public health problem which can not be ignored. The mechanism of DILI include drug factors, immune mechanisms and individual factors. The traditional biological markers, such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamine transferase, total bilirubin, and total bile acid, lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, so they often can not predict liver injury in the early course of the disease. MicroRNA-122, α- glutathione-S-transferase, 5'-nucleotidase, paraoxonase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, malate dehydrogenase, and other new biological markers have higher sensitivity and specificity. Among them, microRNA-122 is expected to become a reliable new biological marker to predict hepatotoxicity because its specific, stable and sensitive expression in the liver tissue. Glutamate dehydrogenase, α-glutathione-S-transferase, arginase Ⅰand serum protein F are expected to become biological markers for hepatocellular injury. The 5'-nucleotidase has higher sensitivity and specificity than alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamine transferase, and it is expected to become a biological marker for cholestasis. At present, these new biological markers of liver injury are still in the research stage and it will take time to get into the clinical use. Key words: Drug-induced liver injury; Biological markers