Para oxonase 1(pon1)‎: a novel serum biomarker for evaluation of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis : an experimental study

Abstract EN

Background / Aim : progressive hepatic fibrosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Diagnosis of schist soma hepatic fibrosis in early stages is a matter of challenge where I he sensitivities of standard biochemical tests for liver fruition are low.

Preliminary observations suggested that paraoxonase (POM) enzyme provides hepatic protection against oxidative stress.

Therefore, the aim of the present work was to have an insight into I he relationship between serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity and the degree of liver image in experimental schist soma hepatic fibrosis This is as a trial to assess whether this biomarker (POM) would be useful as a new index for early diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.

Materials & Methods : Eighty laboratory bred parasitic-free, male Swiss albino, mice were included in this study.

Sixty mice were infected subcutaneously with 50 Schist soma Manson cercariae / mouse.

Tie infected mice were divide into 3 groups : Group (1) : sacrificed 8 weeks post-infection (P.I) Group (II) sacrificed 12 weeks P.I.

Group (EI) : sacrificed 16 weeks PI.

The remaining 20 mice were served a control non-infected group (Group IV).

Sacrificed animals were subjected to the following : 1-Biochemical assay : by assessment of Liver function tests {(serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)}, serum level of malondialehyde (MDA) and serum PON 1 activity.

2-Histopathological examination of haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of liver.

3-ImmurDhistochemical assay of fibronectin and type IV collagen in liver sections.

Results Regarding the rest it's of this study, it was observed that serum POM activities decreased as the fibrotic process progressed (at 8th, 12th and 16th weeks PI.) which determined by characters of granulomas, intensity of staining of fibronectin and collagen IV and serum MDA levels Serum PON 1 activity was significantly lower in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis than controls (p < 0.001), while MDA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001).

Paraoxonase activities were inversely correlated with lipi peroxidation (MDA) levels in all studied groups.

On the other hand, serum levels of AST and ALT showed mil Ron-significant increases at 8th are 12th weeks PI while, significantly increased lately at 16th week P.I.

There was negative correlation between serum level of PON1 and serum lends of AST and ALT.

Conclusion : consequently, a practical result of the present study is the demonstration that the related simple POM activity measurement could significantly improve the current efficiency of the laboratory evaluation of suspected hepatic fibrosis.