Presence of bacterial-DNA in cirrhosis identifies a subgroup of patients with marked inflammatory response not related to endotoxin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and bacterial-DNA have been proposed as markers of bacterial translocation and this study aimed to evaluate the immune response registered by bacterial-DNA from Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms and the effect on lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, to further investigate both markers.

METHODS:

Thirty-two patients were distributed into two groups according to the presence of bacterial-DNA, determined by broad-range PCR of 16SrRNA gene. Serum endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, cytokines and nitric oxide products were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS:

Serum endotoxin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein were non-significantly higher in patients with bacterial-DNA than in those without bacterial-DNA. Regarding patients with bacterial-DNA from Gram-positive microorganisms (n = 8), these levels were similar to those in patients without bacterial-DNA (n = 16), and significantly lower than in patients with bacterial-DNA from Gram-negative bacteria. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were significantly increased in patients with vs without bacterial-DNA (324.93+/-70.76 vs 134.91+/-34.58microg/mL; p<0.05; 294.96+/-87.48 vs 175.92+/-60.58microg/mL, p < 0.05, respectively). Patients with bacterial-DNA from Gram-positive microorganisms also showed significantly higher levels for both cytokines than patients without bacterial-DNA, and similar to those in patients with bacterial-DNA from Gram-negative bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with translocation of bacterial-DNA from Gram-positive microorganisms showed increased proinflammatory cytokines unrelated to endotoxin, which would not be detected by serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein measurement.

• Authors: José M González-Navajas, Pablo Bellot, Rubén Francés, Pedro Zapater, Carlos Muñoz, Juan Carlos García-Pagán, Sonia Pascual, Miguel Pérez-Mateo, Jaime Bosch, José Such
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 48 Issue 1 Pg. 61-7 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 17998145 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acute-Phase Proteins
• Biomarkers
• Carrier Proteins
• Cytokines
• DNA, Bacterial
• Endotoxins
• Interleukin-6
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• lipopolysaccharide-binding protein
• Nitric Oxide

Topics

• Acute-Phase Proteins
• Aged
• Bacterial Translocation
• Biomarkers
• Carrier Proteins (blood)
• Cytokines (blood)
• DNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• Endotoxins (toxicity)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Gram-Negative Bacteria (chemistry)
• Gram-Positive Bacteria (chemistry)
• Humans
• Inflammation (diagnosis, pathology)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Lipopolysaccharides (blood)
• Liver (chemistry, pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (diagnosis, pathology)
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Nitric Oxide (blood)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)