Clinical implications of measurement of serum nuclear matrix protein levels in patients with liver disease

Background/Aims: Serum aminotransferase, a sensitive marker of hepatocellular damage, often poorly correlates with the severity of damage. Serum nuclear matrix protein (NMP), a structural protein released from dead cell nuclei, is investigated as a candidate marker of organ damage in liver disease. Methodology: Serum NMP and aminotransferase levels of 134 patients with various liver diseases and 26 healthy individuals were examined. Results: Patients with chronic viral hepatitis showed slightly higher NMP levels (17.8 U/mL; 95% CI 15.0-20.5 U/mL) than those of healthy individuals (6.05 U/mL; 95% CI 4.82-7.27 U/mL). Their NMP values had no correlation with aminotransferase levels. NMP levels were similar irrespective of liver disease progression, whereas aminotransferase values decreased in parallel with progression. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis or primary biliary cirrhosis who were under an appropriate treatment as well as individuals with fatty liver showed no elevation of serum NMP levels. Patients with acute viral hepatitis showed very high NMP levels (38.8 U/mL; 95% CI 27.6-50.0 U/mL) that correlated with serum aminotransferase levels in their sera. Conclusions: In chronic liver diseases, the serum NMP level elevates to various degrees independent from the degree of aminotransferase elevation. Serum NMP, putatively representing the number of dead cells, is a candidate as an indicator of organ damage severity in liver disease.