Abstract
BackgroundEctopic hepatic lipid accumulation is closely related to the development of insulin resistance, which is regarded as one of the most significant risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The current study has shown that fat tissue constitutes an important endocrine organ with its own production and metabolism of many biologically active substances, among which adipokines play an important role. Classic adipokines (e.g. leptin, adiponectin, resistin) are fat-derived hormones which serum level is altered in patients with NAFLD. The role of novel adipokines in the pathomechanism of this disease is not clear. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of chemerin, omentin and vaspin in obese children with NAFLD.MethodsForty-five obese children, aged 7–17 years old, were admitted to our Department with suspected liver disease (hepatomegaly, and/or ultrasonographic liver brightness, and/or increased ALT activity). Viral hepatitides, as well as autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases were excluded. Fasting serum levels of chemerin, omentin and vaspin were determined. The grade of liver steatosis in ultrasound was graded according to Saverymuttu. 1HMR spectroscopy was performed with a 1.5 T scanner and with PRESS sequencing.ResultsFatty liver was confirmed in 39 children by ultrasound and in 33 patients by 1HMRS (19 of them also had increased ALT activity /NAFLD/). Chemerin and vaspin levels were significantly higher in children with NAFLD compared to the control group (n = 30). The concentration of chemerin was significantly higher in children with advanced liver steatosis compared to non-hepatopathic patients (p = 0,02). Significant positive correlations were found between the total liver lipids in 1HMRS and chemerin (r = 0,33; p = 0,02) and vaspin (r = 0,4; p = 0,006). The ability of serum chemerin (cut-off = 190 ng/ml, Se = 75%, Sp = 58%) to differentiate children with fatty liver in 1HMRS from those without steatosis was significant (AUC = 0,7, p = 0,04). Omentin and vaspin did not allow a useful prediction to be made.ConclusionChemerin seems to be the most suitable non-invasive biomarker in predicting both intrahepatic lipid content in obese children and advanced liver steatosis in children with NAFLD.
Highlights
Ectopic hepatic lipid accumulation is closely related to the development of insulin resistance, which is regarded as one of the most significant risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
The current study has shown that fat tissue constitutes an important endocrine organ with its own production and metabolism of many biologically active substances, among which adipokines play an important role [8]
There were significantly higher BMI and waist circumferences, activity of ALT and GGT and intrahepatic lipid content in 1HMRS in children with NAFLD compared to non-hepatopathic patients (Table 1)
Summary
Ectopic hepatic lipid accumulation is closely related to the development of insulin resistance, which is regarded as one of the most significant risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The current study has shown that fat tissue constitutes an important endocrine organ with its own production and metabolism of many biologically active substances, among which adipokines play an important role [8] These proteins, produced and secreted by fat tissue, take part in many physiological processes and are responsible for such pathological changes associated with obesity as insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, hypertension and NAFLD. It has been suggested that so called “novel” adipokines (chemerin, omentin, vaspin) might have a strong relationship with obesity, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver It has been shown in a few studies, comprised of adult populations, that some of these adipokines are displayed in higher concentrations in NAFLD patients compared to the control. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum chemerin, omentin and vaspin concentrations in children with NAFLD as potential markers of ectopic lipid accumulation in the liver
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have