SERUM SECRETORY IMMUNOGLOBULIN A AND Gln223Arg POLYMORPHISM OF THE LEPR GENE IN ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASES

Abstract

Level of serum secretory immunoglobulin A was investigated in alcoholic liver disease (ALD, 59 men and 23 women) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, 17 men and 93 women).The data were compared with those of persons without liver pathology (control group, 43 men and 73 women). Moreover, we studied possible associations between ssIgA level and Gln223Arg polymorphism of the LEPR gene. Immunological and DNA diagnostics was performed by means of, respectively, ELISA and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. We have found that the average level of ssIgA was three times higher in ALD group (11.45±0.82 mg/l), than in the NAFLD group (4.35±0.35 mg/l) or in controls (3,60±0,29 mg/l). SsIgА concentration did not depend on adiposity and gender. The ssIgА concentration proved to be increased in Gln223Arg heterozygotes with NAFLD, when compared with controls. However, the frequency of 223Arg and 223Gln alleles was virtually equal in all observed groups with above-normal concentration of ssIgА, as compared to a sub-group with normal ssIgА concentration. Hence, we have not revealed any significant association between Gln223Arg polymorphism of LEPR and ssIgA level. The data obtained will be useful for studying genetic risk factors in development of infectious mucosаl lesions.

Keywords

• serum secretory iga
• lepr gene polymorphism
• hepatic disorders