Serum sphingosine-1 phosphate level is increased in patients with hepatitis B and displays a positive association with liver fibrosis

Objective: To investigate the difference in serum sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) concentration between the HBV hepatitis patients and healthy controls, and its relevant association with serum liver fibrosis indicators.

Methods: A total of 28 HBsAg (+) HBeAg (+) Anti-HBc (+) hepatitis B patients, 42 HBsAg (+) Anti-HBe (+) Anti-HBc (+) hepatitis B patients, and 21 healthy subjects with normal liver function were included. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass method was used to detect the level of serum S1P.

Results: SerumS1P concentration of Anti-HBe (+) hepatitis B patients was higher than that of the control group (P=0.017) and HBeAg (+) patients (P=0.007). At the same time, there was no significant difference in the serum S1P concentration between HBeAg (+) hepatitis B patients and the control group (P>0.05). Moreover, serum S1P concentration was positively correlated with liver fibrosis indices, Collage Type IV Protein (r=0.264; P=0.011), and Chitosanase 3-like protein 1 (r=0.295; P=0.004).

Conclusions: Serum S1P level is increased in patients with hepatitis B and displays a positive association with liver fibrosis.