Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:56
Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis
Published on: February 10, 2015
Circulating matrix metalloproteinase profile in early-stage primary biliary cholangitis
Magdalena Rogalska1, Sławomir Ławicki2, Agnieszka Błachnio-Zabielska3
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland. pmagdar@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|June 21, 2026
Summary
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are altered in early primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). MMP-7 shows promise as a biomarker for liver fibrosis in PBC patients, aiding disease monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease characterized by bile duct damage, inflammation, and fibrosis.
- The role of circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in early-stage PBC and their association with liver fibrosis and portal hemodynamics require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the circulating MMP profile in early-stage PBC patients.
- To investigate the relationship between MMPs, non-invasive fibrosis assessment, and portal hemodynamics in early PBC.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples from 46 early-stage PBC patients and 31 healthy controls were analyzed for MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -10, and -26 using ELISA.
- Liver stiffness was measured by point shear-wave elastography, and portal flow indices were assessed by Doppler ultrasound.
Main Results:
- PBC patients exhibited significantly higher levels of MMP-7, MMP-2, and MMP-10 compared to controls.
- MMP-7 levels strongly correlated with liver stiffness and showed high discriminatory performance for significant fibrosis (AUC=0.800).
- MMP-7 remained associated with significant fibrosis after adjusting for age, outperforming APRI and FIB-4 scores.
Conclusions:
- Early-stage PBC is associated with a distinct circulating MMP profile, with elevated MMP-7, MMP-2, and MMP-10.
- MMP-7 emerges as a potential non-invasive biomarker for assessing liver fibrogenesis and monitoring disease progression in early PBC.
