Fig. 3.

Monocyte gene expression for PGE₂ synthases and circulating endotoxin levels in decompensated cirrhosis.

mRNA levels of (A) PTGS1 (COX-1), (B) PTGS2 (COX-2), (C) mPGES1, (D) mPGES2_, (E) PTGES3 (cPGES) synthase enzymes, and (F) HPGD in purified primary human monocytes from n = 9, 11, and 22 for HVs, OPDs, and AD/ACLF, respectively. (G) Plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14) in n = 12, 11, and 26 for HVs, OPDs, and AD/ACLF, respectively. (H) Correlation between plasma CRP and PTGS2 (COX-2). (I) Correlation between plasma CRP and plasma PGE₂ concentrations using Pearson’s correlation coefficient followed by Bonferroni correction. Data expressed as mean ± SEM or individual data plots, unpaired t-test ± Welsh correction for patient comparisons with HVs. qPCR results normalised to the reference gene SNRPD3 and data expressed as fold change relative to healthy levels with 1-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons performed using Browne–Forsythe and Welch’s tests. ∗p <0.05, ∗∗p <0.01. ACLF, acute-on-chronic liver failure; AD, acute decompensation; CRP, C-reactive protein; DSS, downstream synthases; HVs, healthy volunteers; HPGD, 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase; OPD, patients with refractory ascites attending hospital outpatient department for day-case paracentesis; PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂; qPCR, quantitative PCR; sCD14, soluble CD14.