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European Cytokine Network

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TNF-α messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis Volume 23, numéro 3, July-August-September 2012

Auteurs
Faculty of Medicine, St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon

<p>tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A few studies have confirmed high TNF-α plasma protein levels in patients with NASH compared to healthy volunteers. We herein aimed to revisit these findings using other molecular techniques.</p><p>a cross-sectional evaluation of patients newly diagnosed with NASH. A quantitative assay for the measurement of TNF-α messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was performed for NASH patients and controls using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p>in 39 patients with NASH (mean age 38.6 ± 9.4 years, range 28-60 years; 79% males), the mean TNF-α mRNA level was significantly higher than that found for controls (137.6 ± 102.3 ng/mL versus 83.5 ± 43.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.012). A TNF-α mRNA cut-off of 100 ng/mL predicted NASH most optimally (AUC 0.685 ± 0.066, P = 0.01; with 66.7% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity). Serum TNF-α and soluble TNF-α receptor II (sTNFRII) levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls using ELISA.</p><p>high TNF-α mRNA levels, determined by RT-PCR, characterize patients with NASH.</p>