Objective: To study the changes of genomic density polymorphism and quantitative expression of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) on erythrocytes in patients with liver diseases.
Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Hind III restriction enzyme digestion and the quantitative assay of erythrocytic CR1 were used.
Results: The spot mutation rate (25.0% approximately 30.3%) of erythrocyte CR1 density gene in patients with liver diseases was not significantly different with that of healthy individuals (28.0%). The amount of erythrocytic CR1 in patients with liver diseases, except for those with normal liver function, was significantly lower than that of healthy individuals (t=10.44, P<0.0001). The quantitative expression of erythrocytic CR1 in decompensated cirrhosis was obviously lower than that of compensated cirrhosis (t=2.21, P<0.05).
Conclusion: Defective expression of CR1 in liver diseases is acquired through central and/or peripheral mechanisms. It is very important to study the quantitative expression in the evaluation of the development of liver diseases.