Can Serum Pin1 Level Be Regarded as an Indicative Marker of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Fibrotic Stages?

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate serum Pin1 as an indicator of the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its association with the histopathological liver fibrosis stages. Methods: Serum samples were collected from consecutive biopsy-proven NASH patients and healthy controls, and then serum levels of Pin1 were measured. The correlations between clinical and histopathological features of NASH and Pin1 were evaluated. Patients who had fibrotic stages <2 were termed mild fibrosis group and those who had ≥2 as advanced fibrosis group. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate the independent predicting factors for the presence of liver fibrosis caused by NASH. Results: Fifty-six consecutive NASH patients and 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum Pin1 levels were significantly higher in NASH patients (39.24 ± 30.94) than in controls (27.7 ± 9.56, p < 0.001). In NASH patients, serum Pin1 levels were correlated with the histopathological features. Patients with advanced fibrosis had higher serum Pin1 levels than the mild fibrosis group (53.42 ± 33.8 vs. 33.24 ± 20.90, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, Pin1 remained an independent predicting factor of advanced liver fibrosis (OR: 1.051, 95% CI: 1.013-1.089, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Serum Pin1 level can be used as a potential independent marker of the presence of the NASH and advanced fibrotic scores.