Role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in liver fibrosis with transient myeloproliferative disorder in down syndrome.

Liver fibrosis is a common complication associated with transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) in Down syndrome (DS). The exact molecular pathogenesis that regulates disease progression is largely unknown. We recently found serum and/or urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) as a novel biomarker of liver fibrosis. This study was an in vitro analysis to investigate the fibrogenic activity of MCP-1 using the collagen-producing LX-2 human hepatic stellate cell line. We also examined the fibrogenic activity of serum from a male neonate with DS in whom late-onset liver fibrosis developed even after the resolution of TMD. MCP-1 stimulated both cell growth and collagen synthesis of LX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Patient serum obtained during the active disease phase significantly up-regulated fibrogenic activity, which was suppressed in the presence of MCP-1-blocking antibody. Transient transforming growth factor beta 1 stimulation primed LX-2 to induce prolonged hypersecretion of MCP-1 in the culture supernatant and in collagen synthesis, which was suppressed with MCP-1 blocking antibody as well. Conclusion: MCP-1 accounts for the prolonged activation of collagen-producing hepatic stellate cells in both a paracrine and autocrine manner, thereby promoting liver fibrosis. Anti-cytokine therapy targeting the fibrogenic cytokines of MCP-1, for example, herbal medicine, could provide a new therapeutic intervention for liver fibrosis associated with TMD in DS. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:230-236).

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) as a Potential Therapeutic Target and a Noninvasive Biomarker of Liver Fibrosis Associated With Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder in Down Syndrome.

Liver fibrosis is one of the common complications of transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) in Down syndrome (DS), but the exact molecular pathogenesis is largely unknown. We herein report a neonate of DS with liver fibrosis associated with TMD, in which we performed the serial profibrogenic cytokines analyses. We found the active monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in the affected liver tissue and also found that both serum and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 concentrations are noninvasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis. We also showed a prospective of the future anticytokine therapy with herbal medicine for the liver fibrosis associated with TMD in DS.

Living-donor liver transplantation for propionic acidemia.

Propionic acidemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids because of a genetic defect in PCC. Despite the improvements in medical treatment with protein restriction, sufficient caloric intake, supplementation of l-carnitine, and metronidazole, patients with the severe form of propionic acidemia have life-threatening metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, and cardiomyopathy, which results in serious neurologic sequelae and sometimes death. This study retrospectively reviewed three children with neonatal-onset propionic acidemia who received LDLT. Between November 2005 and December 2010, 148 children underwent LDLT, with an overall patient survival of 90.5%, in our center. Three patients were indicated for transplantation because of propionic acidemia. All recipients achieved a resolution of metabolic derangement and better quality of life with protein restriction and medication, although urine methylcitrate and serum propionylcarnitine levels did not decrease markedly. LT can reduce the magnitude of progressive cardiac/neurologic disability as a result of poor metabolic control. Further evaluation is therefore required to determine the long-term suitability of this treatment modality.