Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on mRNA expression of MDR3 and FXR in infants with cholestatic hepatitis

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on the mRNA expression of multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in infants with cholestatic hepatitis. Methods Twenty-eight infants who were diagnosed with cholestatic hepatitis between July 2008 and July 2010 were included in the study. These patients received treatment with UDCA. The mRNA expression levels of MDR3 and FXR were measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR with SYBR Green I, before and after treatment with UDCA. Results After treatment with UDCA, the infants with cholestatic hepatitis had significantly decreased serum levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P<0.05) and significantly increased mRNA expression of MDR3 (P<0.05). No significant change in mRNA expression of FXR was observed, however (P>0.05). Conclusions UDCA improves liver function indices in infants with cholestatic hepatitis, which may be related to up-regulated mRNA expression of MDR3.