Circulating metabolites are associated with persistent elevations of ALT
in patients with chronic hepatitis B with complete viral suppression
Abstract
Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be completely
suppressed after antiviral treatment; however, some patients with
chronic hepatitis B (CHB) still exhibit elevated alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) levels and sustained disease progression. The aim
of this study was to provide novel insights into the mechanism and
potential predictive biomarkers of persistently elevated ALT (PeALT) in
patients with CHB after complete viral inhibition. Methods: CHB
Patients with undetectable HBV DNA at least 12 months after antiviral
treatment were enrolled from a prospective, observational cohort.
Correlations between plasma metabolites and the risk of elevated ALT
were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Results:
Of the 1238 patients with CHB who achieved complete viral suppression,
40 (3.23%) had PeALT levels during follow-up (median follow-up: 2.42
years). Additionally, 40 patients with persistently normal ALT (PnALT)
levels were matched 1:1 as controls. Ser-Phe-Ala (variable importance in
projection [VIP] = 4.28), Lys-Ala-Leu-Glu (VIP = 4.49),
3-methylhippuric acid (VIP = 3.04), 3-methylxanthine (VIP = 2.62), and
7-methylxanthine (VIP = 3.35) were identified as critical differential
metabolites between the two groups and independently associated with
PeALT risk. Ser-Phe-Ala and Lys-Ala-Leu-Glu levels could be used to
discriminate patients with PeALT from those with PnALT. Furthermore,
N-acetyl-l-methionine (NALM) demonstrated the strongest negative
correlation with ALT levels. NALM supplementation alleviated liver
injury and hepatic necrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice.
Conclusions: Changes in circulating metabolites may contribute
to PeALT levels in patients with CHB who have achieved complete viral
suppression after antiviral treatment.