Serum aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide level and killer cell activity in patients with alcoholic liver diseases
Schnabel, R.; Jaszovszky, S.; Bokor, M.; Garam, T.
Orvosi Hetilap 132(27): 1479-1483
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 1956678 Document Number: 376988
The authors examined the aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide level of serums and killer-cell activity peripheric blood lymphocytes with 75 patients suffering from ethanol originated liver diseases as well as control samples from 40 healthy volunteers. Determination of type III procollagen peptide (Fab) took place by the RIA method. The cytotoxic activity of killer-cells was tested against human red blood cells. Both in fatty liver and chronic alcoholic hepatitis the level of type III procollagen peptide increased, while in liver cirrhosis the same level reached a value three times of the normal. At the same time in cirrhosis hepatitis an increased killer-cell activity could be observed. Type III procollagen peptide values were also analysed in view of the cytotoxic capacity of killer-cells. At first ill, then healthy control individuals were divided into three groups according killer-cell activity values. Results have shown that in the group with a high level killer-cell activity average type III procollagen peptide values were significantly greater as compared to those of the medium or low level activity groups. These results might indicate a relation between a conditional antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity reaction and increasing collagen synthesis.