Adiponectin negatively correlates with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver dysfunction: Health check-up study of Japanese men

Serum Mac-2 Binding Protein Levels Associate with Metabolic Parameters and Predict Liver Fibrosis Progression in Subjects with Fatty Liver Disease: A 7-Year Longitudinal Study

Background: Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) is a highly glycosylated secreted glycoprotein that is involved in immune defense and regulation. Our cross-sectional studies indicated that serum M2BP was a useful liver fibrosis biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we conducted a 7-year longitudinal study to investigate the significance of serum M2BP levels (baseline and at 7-year follow-up) and their relationships with other metabolic parameters of fatty liver disease. Methods: We enrolled 715 study subjects (521 male and 194 female) during health examinations. Study subjects received blood sampling tests and abdominal ultrasound tests at baseline and follow-up. Results: Univariate analyses demonstrated that serum M2BP levels were significantly correlated with various parameters related to metabolic risk (body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol) and metabolic syndrome diseases (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver (FL)). Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that BMI and FL were independent determinants for serum M2BP levels. Baseline serum M2BP levels were significant independent determinants for changes in platelet count, Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index, and NAFLD fibrosis score. Higher serum M2BP levels (>1.80 μg/mL) strongly correlated with changes in the FIB4-index. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that changes in serum M2BP levels reflect changes in specific metabolic disease-related parameters, and baseline serum M2BP levels could predict changes in liver fibrosis.

Use of Mac-2 binding protein as a biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosis

In contrast to patients with viral hepatitis, patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma during the initial stages of liver fibrosis. Development and implementation of noninvasive methods for diagnosis and progression prediction are important for effective NAFLD surveillance. Mac-2 binding protein (Mac-2bp) is a useful nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diagnosis biomarker and a powerful prediction biomarker for NAFLD fibrosis stage. Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA)-positive Mac-2bp (WFA+-M2BP) is a novel serum fibrosis biomarker for chronic hepatitis C that has clinical validity. Mac-2bp and WFA+-M2BP are also clinical NAFLD biomarker candidates. We examined the efficacy of Mac-2bp and WFA+-M2BP for NAFLD assessment using patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 510; NAFLD cohort) and subjects who received a health check-up (n = 2,122; check-up cohort). In the NAFLD cohort, we set the fibrosis predicting cutoff values as 1.80 (F1), 2.21 (F2), and 2.24 μg/mL (F3). In the subjects with fatty liver from the check-up cohort (n = 1,291), the serum Mac-2bp levels were >1.80 μg/mL in 38.6% of the subjects (n = 498), and >2.24 μg/mL in 24.6% of the subjects (n = 318). The NAFLD cohort results indicated that Mac-2bp and WFA+-M2BP were equally useful for NASH diagnosis. During the early stages of fibrosis (F1, F2), the increase in Mac-2bp was statistically significant but WFA+-M2BP did not increase. Logistic regression analysis revealed that Mac-2bp was an independent determinant for the prediction of advanced fibrosis stage (≥F2), even when adjusted for WFA+-M2BP. Immunohistochemical staining of Mac-2bp revealed that hepatocytes strongly expressed Mac-2bp in patients with NAFLD. Conclusion: Our results indicated that hepatocyte-derived Mac-2bp would be a useful single biomarker for NASH diagnosis and fibrosis stage prediction in patients with NAFLD. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:780-791).

Light alcohol consumption plays a protective role against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese men with metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although excess alcohol consumption has been believed to cause liver injury, light alcohol consumption (LAC) has been reported to play a protective role against fatty liver in recent studies. However, the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and LAC in men with metabolic syndrome (MS) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between NAFLD and LAC in men with MS.

METHODS

Subjects were 1055 men with MS who underwent a regular health check-up and drank less 20 g/day of alcohol. A distinction was made between non-drinkers and light drinkers and the association between NAFLD and LAC in men with MS was elucidated. NAFLD was referred as fatty liver with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels ≧31 IU/L in this study.

RESULTS

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the prevalence of NAFLD were significantly lower in light drinkers than in non-drinkers. Logistic regression analysis showed body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), uric acid (UA), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), visceral fat type MS and LAC (odds ratios: 0.654; 95% confidence intervals: 0.473-0.906; <0.05) were significant predictors of the prevalence of NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of NAFLD in light drinkers was significantly lower than in non-drinkers, and supporting previous reports studying the general population, LAC is one of the significant predictors of a decreased prevalence of NAFLD in men with MS.

GLP-1 receptor agonists: effects on the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases, and its incidence has been increasing recently. In addition to hepatic complications, NAFLD is also recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the current therapies for NAFLD display variable efficacy; a novel and effective drug is urgently needed. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a receptor agonist is a new drug approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Recently, these types of agents have shown a novel therapeutic effect on NAFLD. However, the mechanisms of GLP-1 receptor agonists on the treatment of NAFLD have not yet been explained precisely. Recent studies have demonstrated that GLP-1 reverses the progression of NAFLD not only indirectly through an incretin effect that improves key parameters involved in NAFLD, but also a direct effect on lipid metabolism of hepatocytes and inflammation in liver. In this review, we provided an overview of the role and mechanisms of GLP-1 in the therapy of NAFLD.

Fetuin-A negatively correlates with liver and vascular fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease subjects

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Fetuin-A (α2HS-glycoprotein), a liver secretory glycoprotein, is known as a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signalling inhibitor. Serum fetuin-A concentration is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease. However, the usefulness of serum fetuin-A as a predictive fibrosis biomarker in NAFLD patients remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between circulating fetuin-A levels and fibrosis-related markers [platelet count, NAFLD fibrosis score and carotid intima media thickness (IMT)] in subjects with NAFLD.

METHODS

A total of 295 subjects (male, 164; female, 131) who received medical health check-ups were enrolled in this study. NAFLD was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasonography. Serum fetuin-A was measured by ELISA. IMT was assessed using a high-resolution ultrasound scanner. Using recombinant human fetuin-A, we investigated the effects of fetuin-A on hepatic stellate cells, which play a pivotal role in the process of hepatic fibrosis.

RESULTS

Serum fetuin-A concentration was significantly correlated with platelet count (R = 0.19, P < 0.01), NAFLD fibrosis score (R = -0.25, P < 0.01) and mean IMT (R = -0.22, P < 0.01). Multivariate analyses revealed that the fetuin-A concentration is a significant and independent determinant of platelet count, NAFLD fibrosis score and mean IMT. Recombinant fetuin-A suppressed TGF-β1 signalling and fibrosis-related gene expression and increased the expression of TGF-β1 pseudoreceptor bone morphogenic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum fetuin-A level is associated with liver/vessel fibrosis-related markers in NAFLD patients. Circulating fetuin-A could be a useful serum biomarker for predicting liver and vascular fibrosis progression in NAFLD patients.

Central obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk after adjusting for body mass index

AIM

To investigate whether central obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) formation after adjusting for general obesity.

METHODS

The online databases PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science were searched for studies estimating the influence of central obesity on NAFLD occurrence published through April 2014. Studies that did not adjust for body mass index (BMI) were excluded. In addition, the independent effect of BMI was also assessed with the included studies. The pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models based on the degree of heterogeneity. Furthermore, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias were performed.

RESULTS

Twenty eligible studies were identified. The summary odds ratio (OR) values per-unit increase in waist circumference (WC) and BMI for NAFLD formation were 1.07 (95%CI: 1.03-1.10, I (2) = 73.9%, n = 11 studies) and 1.25 (95%CI: 1.13-1.38, I (2) = 88.7%, n = 11 studies), respectively. When the indices were expressed as binary variables (with the non-obesity group as reference), the pooled OR in WC, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI were 2.34 (95%CI: 1.83-3.00, I (2) = 41.8%, n = 7 studies), 4.06 (95%CI: 1.53-10.79, I (2) = 65.7%, n = 3 studies), and 2.85 (95%CI: 1.60-5.08, I (2) = 57.8%, n = 5 studies), respectively. Using the same studies as the latter (n = 5), pooled OR in WC was 3.14 (95%CI: 2.07-4.77), which is greater than that in BMI.

CONCLUSION

Central obesity may pose a greater threat to national health than general obesity, although both are independently associated with increased risk of NAFLD.

Adiponectin: A multitasking player in the field of liver diseases

Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine synthesized by adipose tissue and has been shown to be a key component in the relationship between adiposity, insulin resistance and inflammation. It circulates in plasma at physiological concentrations that represent 0.05% of all plasma proteins. Adiponectin has trimeric, hexameric and multimeric forms that bind to receptors AdipoR1, AdipoR2 and T-cadherin especially in liver, muscle and endothelial cells. Adiponectin is considered a potent modulator of lipid and glucose metabolism with antidiabetic, antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. The hepatoprotective effects of adiponectin, especially in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have been widely investigated, and its antisteatotic, anti-inflammatory and antifibrogenic effects have already been described. Adiponectin levels are reduced in individuals with fatty liver disease independently of body mass index, insulin resistance and other adipokines, and are inversely related to the severity of steatosis and necroinflammation, suggesting an important role in the relationship between adipose tissue, the liver and insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin has also been found to be reduced in cases of hepatitis B and C infection, and in cholestatic and autoimmune diseases, but is increased in patients with cirrhosis of different aetiologies. In addition, an important role for the liver in the regulation of adiponectin secretion by adipocytes, mediated by bile acids, has recently been proposed. The present report describes the importance of adiponectin in hepatic diseases as well as some future perspectives of the role of adiponectin as a biomarker and therapeutic target in liver diseases.

Expression of adiponectin receptor 1 is indicative of favorable prognosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It is believed that obesity-related malignancies such as breast, endometrial, colorectal, and kidney carcinomas have lower plasma level and/or tissue expression of adiponectin receptors. However, the association between adiponectin receptors and lung cancer, a non obesity-related malignancy, is still unknown. We evaluated the tissue expression of adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) 1 and AdipoR2 in 83 cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and matched non-neoplastic lung tissues by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Clinicopathological data, including smoking history, smoker's bronchiolitis, emphysema, lymph node metastasis, and T-stage were collected and evaluated. Expression of immunohistochemically stained AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 was observed in all samples of non-neoplastic lung tissues. Both receptors showed higher mRNA expression in non-neoplastic than neoplastic tissues (p < 0.05). In NSCLC tissues, AdipoR1 immunohistochemical expression was not observed in most of patients with squamous cell carcinoma and current smoking history (31/42, p = 0.04 and 25/29, p = 0.003, respectively). Additionally, AdipoR1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.05). Meanwhile, AdipoR2 immunohistochemical stain expression was inversely correlated with T-stage (p = 0.05) and AdipoR2 mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with smoker's bronchiolitis (p = 0.01) and emphysema (p = 0.03). Patients with expression of AdipoR1 had longer overall survival. AdipoR2 expression was not correlated with patients' survival. In conclusion, we suggest that expression of AdipoR1 is indicative of favorable prognosis and may be used as prognostic marker in NSCLC.