Association between M-CSF, GGT/Alb and the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the association between macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), the ratio of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to albumin (GGT/Alb), and the progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection. Methods A cohort of 110 chronic HBV patients treated between March 2020 and April 2021 constituted the HBV infection group. Based on liver biopsy pathology and the Metavir scoring system, patients were stratified into non-fibrosis (F0, n=47), mild-moderate fibrosis (F1-F3, n=34), and severe fibrosis (F4, n=29) subgroups. Ninety-eight contemporaneous healthy individuals served as the control group. Levels of M-CSF, GGT/Alb, and established liver fibrosis markers [hyaluronic acid (HA), type Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C), type III procollagen (PC-Ⅲ), laminin (LN)] were measured and compared amomg groups. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between M-CSF, GGT/Alb, fibrosis severity, and other markers. Results M-CSF and GGT/Alb levels were significantly elevated in the HBV group compared to controls [(305.16±45.87) pg/mL vs (237.39±33.02) pg/mL,0.53 (0.38,0.77) vs 0.30 (0.22,0.61)] (P<0.05). Within the HBV group, levels of M-CSF, GGT/Alb, HA, Ⅳ-C, PC-Ⅲ, and LN were significantly higher in both mild-moderate and severe fibrosis subgroups than those in the non-fibrosis subgroup (P<0.05), and further elevated in the severe versus mild-moderate subgroup (P<0.05). Pearson analysis revealed significant positive correlations between both M-CSF and GGT/Alb and the levels of HA, Ⅳ-C, PC-Ⅲ, and LN (all P<0.05) among chronic HBV patients. A significant positive correlation was also found between M-CSF and GGT/Alb (P<0.05). Conclusion Elevated levels of M-CSF and GGT/Alb are closely associated with the severity of liver fibrosis in chronic HBV infection, and there is a positive correlation between the two markers. Their combined assessment may offer valuable serological insights for evaluating liver fibrosis.

Key words: Chronic HBV infection, Liver fibrosis, Macrophage colony-stimulating factor, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, albumin

CUI Li-wei, DU Yan-ming, MA Li-li. Association between M-CSF, GGT/Alb and the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(3): 361-364.

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