Hypomethylation of Thymosin β4 Promoter is Associated with Glucocorticoid Therapy in Patients with Acute-on-chronic Hepatitis B-induced Liver Failure

Overview

Journal Int Health

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Health Services

Date 2022 Feb 12

PMID 35150577

Authors

He Wang

Yu Qian

Jing-Wen Wang

Yu Fang

Yu-Chen Fan

Hui-Hui Liu

Kai Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to determine whether the methylation status of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) promoter reflects the severity of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) and whether glucocorticoids affect this status.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with ACHBLF, 45 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 32 healthy controls (HCs), were retrospectively enrolled. Methylation-specific PCR and real-time PCR were used to detect Tβ4 methylation frequency and mRNA level. The expression of Tβ4 was measured before and after glucocorticoid treatment in patients with ACHBLF. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained.

Results: Tβ4 mRNA expression of patients with ACHBLF was lower than in patients with CHB or HCs, but the methylation frequency was higher. Tβ4 promoter methylation frequency was correlated with serum total bilirubin, prothrombin activity and model for end-stage liver disease score. Moreover, Tβ4 promoter methylation frequency decreased and demethylation occurred during glucocorticoid therapy. After glucocorticoid therapy, Tβ4 mRNA expression and liver function were better in patients with low levels of methylation than in those with higher levels. After 90 d, the survival of patients with low levels of methylation was significantly higher than those with high levels.

Conclusions: Patients with ACHBLF who have low levels of Tβ4 methylation may show a more favorable response to glucocorticoid treatment.

Citing Articles

Early prediction model for prognosis of patients with hepatitis-B-virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure received glucocorticoid therapy.

Gao S, Han L, Fan Y, Wang K Eur J Med Res. 2022; 27(1):248.

PMID: 36376930 PMC: 9661801. DOI: 10.1186/s40001-022-00891-w.

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