Clinical significance of expression of leptin in patients with biliary atresia and hepatic fibrosis
10.3760/cma.j.cn113884-20211119-00377
- VernacularTitle:瘦素在胆道闭锁患儿肝纤维化中的表达及其临床意义
- Author:
Qiong WANG
1
;
Qipeng ZHENG
;
Cong ZHANG
;
Lingzhi CHEN
;
Mengdi LI
;
Renjie YANG
;
Fangyuan ZHAO
;
Yingyi QI
;
Wenfan XUE
;
Jianghua ZHAN
Author Information
1. 天津医科大学研究生院，天津 300070
- Keywords:
Liver cirrhosis;
Biliary atresia;
Leptin;
Hepatic stellate cells
- From:
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery
2022;28(4):275-279
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To study the relationship and the role of leptin in children with biliary atresia and hepatic fibrosis to provide a treatment basis for these patients.Methods:The clinical data of children with biliary atresia or congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of General Surgery of Tianjin Children's Hospital from August 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 31 children included in this study, there were 14 males and 17 females, with age of 60 (30, 63) d. Children with biliary atresia served as the study group ( n=26) and children with CBD served as the control group ( n=5). Leptin protein, α-smooth muscleactin (α-SMA) and phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in liver tissues were detectd by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expression level of leptin mRNA in liver tissues were detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results:The average optical density values of leptin protein, α-SMA protein and p-ERK1/2 protein in the liver tissues of children in the study group were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). The expression levels of leptin, α-SMA and p-ERK1/2 in liver tissues of children with biliary atresia significantly increased with increase in fibrosis degree ( P<0.05). The expression level of leptin in liver tissues of children with biliary atresia was positively correlated with the liver fibrosis grade ( rs=0.876), α-SMA ( r=0.723) and p-ERK1/2 ( r=0.725) ( P<0.01). The results of qRT-PCR showed that the content of leptin mRNA in liver tissues of children with biliary atresia was significantly higher than that of children with CBD ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Expressions of leptin increased with aggravation of degrees of hepatic fibrosis in biliary atresia. Leptin may be involved in activation of HSCs through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in the process of hepatic fibrosis due to biliary atresia.
