[Significance of P53 and high mobility group box 1 protein in different levels of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of P53 and high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) protein expression in liver fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODS

According to the pathological grades, 103 patients were divided into 3 groups: no fibrosis group (n=18), low fibrosis group (n=49) or high fibrosis group (n=36). Serum HMGB1 levels were determined and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was made based on the HMGB1 level and liver fibrosis score. Liver fibrosis model was developed by CCl4 in 60 male SD rats, which were sacrificed 6 or 12 weeks later. The degree of fibrosis was examined by Masson staining; HMGB1 and P53 protein expression were analyzed by Western blot; histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in serum were measured.

RESULTS

The serum levels of HMGB1 level in low and high fibrosis groups were significantly higher than that in no fibrosis group (P<0.01, respectively). ROC curve showed that serum HMGB1 in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis with cut off at 74 pg/mL, specificity at 65% and sensitivity at 87%. Compared with the control group, HMGB1 expression in both low and high fibrosis group was decreased in nucleus but was increased in cytoplasm, accompanied by the elevated P53 expression, increased HDAC activity and inflammatory cytokine levels (all P<0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

P53 and HMGB1 expression was significantly increased in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis; serum HMGB1 level was positively correlated with the degree of liver cirrhosis and HMGB1 could be used as a sensitive and specific index for liver fibrosis prognosis.