Interleukin-2 receptor alpha as a biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosis

Machine Learning Models for Predicting Significant Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Severe Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

PURPOSE

Although noninvasive tests can be used to predict liver fibrosis, their accuracy is limited for patients with severe obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We developed machine learning (ML) models to predict significant liver fibrosis in patients with severe obesity through noninvasive tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included 194 patients with severe obesity who underwent wedge liver biopsy and metabolic bariatric surgery at Taipei Medical University Hospital between September 2016 and December 2020. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as a fibrosis score ≥ 2. Patients were randomly divided into a training group (70%) and a validation group (30%). ML models, including support vector machine, random forest, k-nearest neighbor, XGBoost, and logistic regression, were trained to predict significant liver fibrosis, using DM status, AST, ALT, ultrasonographic fibrosis scores, and liver stiffness measurements (LSM). An ensemble model including these ML models was also used for prediction.

RESULTS

Among the ML models, the XGBoost model exhibited the highest AUROC of 0.77, with a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 61.5%, 75.8%, and 69.5%, in validation set, while LSM, AST, ALT showed strongest effects on the model. The ensemble model outperformed all ML models in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 73.1%, 90.9%, and 83.1%.

CONCLUSION

For patients with severe obesity and NAFLD, the XGBoost model and the ensemble model exhibit high predictive performance for significant liver fibrosis. These models may be used to screen for significant liver fibrosis in this patient group and monitor treatment response after metabolic bariatric surgery.

Proinflammatory interleukins 2, 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus depending on the presence of metabolic-associated liver steatosis

Background. Lack of information about proinflammatory interleukins (IL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) levels in case of metabolic-associated liver steatosis (MALS) and their roles in its progression to steatohepatitis are key reasons for the relevance and actuality of our study. The purpose: to evaluate proinflammatory interleukins 2, 6, and TNFα levels in concomitant liver steatosis. Materials and methods. Thirty-five patients with hypertension stage II–III, type 2 diabetes mellitus were examined. All of them were treated on an outpatient basis according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants were divided into the main group with MALS (n = 24, males 45.8 %, females 54.2 %; average age 55.83 ± 0.89 years) and the control group without steatosis (n = 11, males 54.5 %, females 45.5 %; average age 53.00 ± 1.55 years). In addition to standard parameters, levels of IL6, IL2, TNFα, selectin, resistin, insulin, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, non-esterified fatty acids were evaluated, and some indexes were calculated, including triglyceride-glucose index and Castelli indexes I and II. Results were processed statistically, with significance level of р < 0.05. Results. Although MALS is not followed by qualitative differences in proinflammatory IL2, IL6 and TNFα compared to no steatosis, the risk of TNFα elevation was 5 times higher in patients with MALS (odds ratio 5.08; 95% confidence interval 1.02–25.17). An increase in IL2 and TNFα is unfavorable for patients with MALS, it can be considered as a marker of steatosis progression to steatohepatitis, as it is associated with transaminase activation, endogenous intoxication, lipid distress and glucose intolerance. IL6 was rather lower in patients with MALS compared to those without steatosis, but its growth was exponential and proceeded simultaneously to IL2 and TNFα. Conclusions. MALS was not associated with significant changes in IL2, IL6 and TNFα compared to no steatosis, but their elevation can be criteria for transformation into steatohepatitis due to the activation of transaminases, inflammation, endogenous intoxication, lipid distress, glucose intolerance.

Interleukins: Pathogenesis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated as crucial contributors to the onset and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The exact mechanisms by which interleukins (ILs) contribute to NAFLD may vary, and ongoing research is aimed at understanding the specific roles of different ILs in the pathogenesis of this condition. In addition, variations in environmental factors and genetics in each individual can influence the onset and/or progression of NAFLD. The lack of clinical studies related to the potential therapeutic properties of IL-1 inhibitors currently does not allow us to conclude their validity as a therapeutic option, although preclinical studies show promising results. Further studies are needed to elucidate their beneficial properties in NAFLD treatment.

To do one and to get more: Part II. Diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver diseases

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by inability of faulty pancreatic β-cells to secret a normal amount of insulin to maintain normal body consumption, and/or peripheral tissue has a decreased susceptibility to insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Similar to other chronic systemic inflammatory diseases, DM is a result from dysregulated interactions between ethnic, genetic, epigenetic, immunoregulatory, hormonal, and environmental factors. Therefore, it is rational to suppose the concept as "To do one and to get more", while using antidiabetic agents (ADA), a main pharmacologic agent for the treatment of DM, can provide an extraglycemia effect on comorbidities or concomittent comorbidities to DM. In this review, based on the much strong correlation between DM and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver diseases (MAFLD) shown by similar pathophysiological mechanisms and a high prevalence of DM in MAFLD and its vice versa (a high prevalence of MAFLD in DM), it is possible to use the strategy to target both diseases simultaneously. We focus on a new classification of ADA, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) agonist and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors to show the potential benefits of extraglycemic effect on MAFLD. We conclude that the management of DM patients, especially for those who need ADA as adjuvant therapy should include healthy lifestyle modification to overcome the metabolic syndrome, contributing to the urgent need of an effective weight-reduction strategy. GLP1R agonist is one of effective body weight-lowering medications, which may be a better choice for DM complicated with MAFLD or its-associated severe form as metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH), although the role of SGLT-2 inhibitors is also impressive. The prescription of these two classes of ADA may satisfy the concept "To do one and to get more", based on successful sugar-lowering effect for controlling DM and extraglycemia benefits of hepatoprotective activity in DM patients.

To do one and to get more: Part I. Diabetes and bone

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by the presence of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. The key treatment strategies for T2DM include modification of lifestyle, medications, and continuous glucose monitoring. DM patients often have DM-associated morbidities and comorbidities; however, disorders of musculoskeletal system are often neglected, compared to other major systems in DM patients. Based on sharing similar pathophysiology of DM and osteoporosis, it is supposed that the use of antidiabetic agents (ADAs) may not only provide the lowering glucose level effect and the maintenance of the sugar homeostasis to directly delay the tissue damage secondary to hyperglycemia but also offer the benefits, such as the prevention of developing osteoporosis and fractures. Based on the current review, evidence shows the positive correlation between DM and osteoporosis or fracture, but the effectiveness of using ADA in the prevention of osteoporosis and subsequent reduction of fracture seems to be inconclusive. Although the benefits of ADA on bone health are uncertain, the potential value of "To do one and to get more" therapeutic strategy should be always persuaded. At least, one of the key treatment strategies as an establishment of healthy lifestyle may work, because it improves the status of insulin resistance and subsequently helps DM control, prevents the DM-related micro- and macrovascular injury, and possibly strengthens the general performance of musculoskeletal system. With stronger musculoskeletal system support, the risk of "fall" may be decreased, because it is associated with fracture. Although the ADA available in the market does not satisfy the policy of "To do one and to get more" yet, we are looking forward to seeing the continuously advanced technology of drug development on diabetic control, and hope to see their extra-sugar-lowering effects.

Recent Progress in the Molecular Imaging of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Pathological fibrosis of the liver is a landmark feature in chronic liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Diagnosis and assessment of progress or treatment efficacy today requires biopsy of the liver, which is a challenge in, e.g., longitudinal interventional studies. Molecular imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) have the potential to enable minimally invasive assessment of liver fibrosis. This review will summarize and discuss the current status of the development of innovative imaging markers for processes relevant for fibrogenesis in liver, e.g., certain immune cells, activated fibroblasts, and collagen depositions.