Figure 4. The plasma L-Cys/L-Glu ratio significantly correlated with the plasma TNF-alpha level in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

A, CD14+monocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers (n = 5) and patients with adcanced cirrhosis (Table S2 : Patient 1–19). the TNF-alpha relative mRNA levels of CD14+monocytes were determined by real time PCR : delta-delta CT method. All mRNA expression levels were normalized to GAPDH. B, Similarly as in Fig. 4A, the xCT relative mRNA levels of monocytes were determined by real time PCR. C, These patients were separated into a high L-Cys/L-Glu ratio group (≥1) and low ratio group (<1). In healthy control (HC), the average plasma L-Cys/L-Glu ratio was 0.61±0.21. D, Linear regression model was used to model variation in plasma L-Cys/L-Glu ratio and plasma TNF-alpha. R² represents coefficient of determination. E, The schematic diagram of the present study concerning monocytes abnormality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. A,B,C *, p<0.05 vs HC (the Mann-Whitney U-test.).