When damage to the liver caused by alcohol or viral infections persists, liver fibrosis progresses and replaces tissue with collagen fibers. This is especially a risk in chronic hepatitis C patients, where liver fibrosis can continue post-viral treatment. If this condition advances, it leads to cirrhosis, a state of liver function decline. Further, liver fibrosis is considered the greatest risk factor for liver cancer, thus making the development of early diagnostic methods crucial.
To detect the presence of liver fibrosis, a research group led by Associate Professor Misako Sato-Matsubara at Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Veterinary Science examined plasma fibulin-5 (FBLN5), a component of elastic fibers, using human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and samples from chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent biopsies. In vitro experiments revealed that FBLN5 is produced by activated HSCs, the cells responsible for liver fibrosis. Further, of the 90 patient samples analyzed, 72 were found to express FBLN5 through immunohistochemistry and 67 with peripheral FBLN5.
The amount of FBLN5 was found to increase as liver fibrosis advances, which may predict the disease with higher accuracy than the previously used type IV collagen test and serve as a potent marker.
"The FBLN5 detected in blood could serve as a marker for identifying the risk of early liver fibrosis and liver cancer in the future," stated Professor Sato-Matsubara. "Moving forward, we plan to develop a method capable of detecting FBLN5 more accurately and proceed with testing using actual patient samples. Advancements in this research could enable earlier and simpler detection of liver fibrosis, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment of liver disease."
The study was published in Gastro Hep Advances.
