Z Gastroenterol 2018; 56(05): e28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1654601
VORTRÄGE
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Functional response of neutrophils is associated with serum bile acids profile in liver cirrhotic patients

I Komarova
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
A Horvath
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
E Krones
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
B Leber
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
B Schmerboeck
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
F Durchschein
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
G Zollner
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
R Stauber
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
W Spindelboeck
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
P Douschan
2   Department of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
P Stiegler
3   Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
D Kniepeiss
3   Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
T Stojakovic
4   Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
G Fauler
4   Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
P Fickert
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
V Stadlbauer
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 May 2018 (online)

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Background:

Neutrophil function is impaired in cirrhosis and this is associated with an increased risk for infections and mortality. We hypothesize that serum bile acids (BA), which play multiple functions in inflammatory and immune processes, could influence neutrophil function in cirrhosis.

Methods:

We investigated the serum BA composition (unconjugated, glycine and taurine conjugated cholic (CA), chenodeoxycholic (CDCA), deoxycholic (DCA), lithocholic (LCA), ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) bile acids) by high-resolution mass spectrometry and neutrophil function (respiratory burst, phagocytosis) by flow cytometry (Phagoburst, Phagotest, Glycotope, Germany) in 109 cirrhotic patients and 21 controls. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS and R software.

Results:

Univariate analysis of BA profile showed significantly increased absolute BA concentrations but decreased relative abundance of unconjugated (p < 0.001), glycine conjugated (p < 0.001), secondary (p < 0.001) and 12α-hydroxylated (p < 0.001) BA in cirrhosis compared to controls. Multivariate analysis showed significantly different BA composition between controls and cirrhosis (R = 0.656, p = 0.001), Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh B+C (R = 0.472, p = 0.001) and between etiologies (alcoholic, hepatitis C, other etiology) (R = 0.382, p = 0.001). In cirrhosis E. coli-associated burst (p = 0.014) was decreased, but fMLP-associated burst (p = 0.017), resting burst (p = 0.001) and non-phagocyting neutrophils (p < 0.001) were increased compared to controls. Neutrophil phagocytosis was significantly decreased in Child B+C cirrhosis compared to Child A cirrhosis (p = 0.041) and in hepatitis C cirrhosis compared to alcoholic (p = 0.003) and other etiology (p < 0.001). Significant associations between phagocytosis, respiratory burst and BA composition dependent on the etiology of cirrhosis were found (Table 1).

Zoom Image
Tab. 1: Spearman's Rank correlation of bile acids composition and neutrophils function in Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis of different etiologies (p < 0.05). fMLP – Formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanin.

Serum BA profile and neutrophil function are associated in cirrhosis. Further studies on bile acid receptor expression and functional studies on the influence of bile acids on neutrophil function are necessary to understand the pathophysiological interactions and to discover potential therapeutic targets.