Euroasian journal of hepato-gastroenterology

Register      Login

VOLUME 8 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2018 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Low Serum Levels of Zonulin in Patients with HCV-Infected Chronic Liver Diseases

Ayumi Morita, Ryouzi Watanabe

Keywords : Intestinal permeability, Leaky gut syndrome, Liver cirrhosis, Zonulin

Citation Information : Morita A, Watanabe R. Low Serum Levels of Zonulin in Patients with HCV-Infected Chronic Liver Diseases. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2018; 8 (2):112-115.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1275

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-01-2019

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2018; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the implication of Zonulin, a mediator protein synthesized by intestine and the liver, in patients with chronic liver diseases. Materials and methods: Twenty-six patients with chronic liver diseases due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were enrolled in this study. Out of total 26 patients, 17 were diagnosed as chronic hepatitis (CH) and 9 were patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Twenty-four of these patients were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the rest two by hepatitis B virus (HBV). The study was conducted at Saiseikai- Imabari Hospital, Imabari, Ehime, Japan. Serum levels of Zonulin along with different parameters of liver function test were measured in all patients and comparative analyses were accomplished. Results: The serum levels of Zonulin were significantly lower in CH patients compared to controls (p<0.001). Also, the levels of Zonulin were significantly lower in patients with LC compared to CH and normal controls (p<0.001). Further analysis revealed that serum Zonulin was significantly lower in patients with LC having ascites than those without ascites (p <0.05). There was a significant correlation of serum levels of Zonulin with platelet count, cholinesterase, and albumin in patients with chronic liver diseases. Discussion: Decreased levels of Zonulin may be related to impaired production of this mediator in the diseased liver. It will be tempting to assess the regulation of Zonulin in the liver, a production site of the mediator.


PDF Share
  1. Tripathi A, Lammers KM, Goldblum S, Shea-Donohue T, Netzel-Arnett S, Buzza MS. Identification of human zonulin, a physiological modulator of tight junctions, as prehaptoglobin-
  2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106:16799-804.
  3. Fasano A. Zonulin and its regulation of intestinal barrier function: the biological door to inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Physiol Rev. 2011 Jan;91(1):151-75.
  4. Fasano A. Zonulin, regulation of tight junctions, and autoimmune diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2012 Jul;1258:25-33.
  5. Sturgeon C, Fasano A. Zonulin, a regulator of epithelial and endothelial barrier functions, and its involvement in chronic inflammatory diseases. Tissue Barriers. 2016 Oct 21;4(4):e1251384.
  6. Fasano A, Not T, Wang W, Uzzau S, Berti I, Tommasini A, Goldblum SE. Zonulin, a newly discovered modulator of intestinal permeability, and its expression in coeliac disease. Lancet. 2000; ;355(9214):1518-1519.
  7. Fasano A and Shea-Donohue T. Mechanisms of Disease: the role of intestinal barrier function in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases. Nature Clinical Practice: Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2005;2(9):416-422.
  8. Sapone A, de Magistris L, Pietzak M, Clemente MG, Tripathi A, Cucca F. Zonulin upregulation is associated with increased gut permeability in subjects with type 1 diabetes and their relatives. Diabetes. 2006;55:1443-1449.
  9. Kim AS, Ko HJ. Plasma concentrations of zonulin are elevated in obese men with fatty liver disease. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2018 Apr 23;11:149-157
  10. Wex T, Mönkemüller K, Kuester D, Fry L, Kandulski A, Malfertheiner P. Zonulin is not increased in the cardiac and esophageal mucosa of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Peptides. 2009 Jun;30(6):1082-1087.
  11. Gerdes S, Osadtschy S, Buhles N, Mrowietz U. Zonulin may not be a marker of autoimmunity in patients with psoriasis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 Mar;92(2):171-172.
  12. Lukaszyk E, Lukaszyk M, Koc-Zorawska E, Bodzenta- Lukaszyk A, Malyszko J. Zonulin, inflammation and iron status in patients with early stages of chronic kidney disease. Int Urol Nephrol. 2018 Jan;50(1):121-125.
  13. Ohlsson B, Orho-Melander M, Nilsson PM. Higher Levels of Serum Zonulin May Rather Be Associated with Increased Risk of Obesity and Hyperlipidemia, Than with Gastrointestinal Symptoms or Disease Manifestations. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Mar 8;18(3).pii: E582.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.