Serum Liver Fatty Acid-binding Protein Research Articles

Liver Fatty Acid-binding Protein Is a More Reliable Biomarker for Liver Injury in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis than Other Etiologies of Hepatitis.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) controls hepatocyte lipid metabolism and can be a biomarker in liver diseases. We compared the correlation of LFABP levels with liver histology in viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and investigated the utility of serum LFABP as a biomarker for liver damage. We included 142 patients (60 chronic viral hepatitis B [CHB], 35 chronic viral hepatitis C [CHC], 47 NAFLD) and 40 healthy controls. LFABP levels were determined in all participants, and a liver biopsy was performed on patients. The nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) activity score (NAS), hepatosteatosis, liver inflammation, and fibrosis were evaluated for NAFLD patients. Ishak's histological scores were used for viral hepatitis. The correlation between LFABP levels and histologic scores was assessed in each group. Serum LFABP levels in CHB, CHC, NAFLD, and control groups were 2.2, 3.5, 7.6, and 2.1 ng/mL, respectively. LFABP levels were significantly higher in the NAFLD group compared to the control, CHC, and CHB groups. LFABP was significantly higher in the NASH group than in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, 8 ng/mL and 5.4 ng/mL, respectively (P = .001). In the NAFLD group, LFABP levels showed a moderate positive correlation with NAS score (r = 0.58, P <.001), ballooning degeneration (r = 0.67, P <.001), and lobular inflammation (r = 0.62, P <.001). A logistic regression study showed that the level of LFABP was predictive of NASH independent of age, gender, homeostasis model of IR, body mass index, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase (OR = 1.869, P = .01). LFABP specifically correlates with liver histology in NAFLD compared to viral hepatitis. Additionally, it can distinguish NASH from simple steatosis. LFABP may be a valuable biomarker for hepatocyte injury in NASH.

Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein: Is it an early diagnostic and prognostic marker in liver damage?

Objective: The majority of the liver function tests are not specific to the liver. The histological liver damage begins before patients are diagnosed with cirrhosis and continues afterwards. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for early and specific markers that are correlated with liver damage. This study aims to investigate if serum and urinary liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) levels could be used as an early diagnostic marker of liver cirrhosis.&#x0D; Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, 27 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and 30 healthy controls. The patients and healthy controls were tested for serum and urinary L-FABP levels.&#x0D; Results: The serum and urinary L-FABP levels were higher in patients with cirrhosis than the healthy controls (both p&lt;0.001). The cut-off value of serum and urinary L-FABP was computed as 721.78 ng/ml and 621.25 ng/ml, respectively. The sensitivity of serum and urinary L-FABP to detect cirrhosis at this cut-off was 99.8% and 98.9%. The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of serum and urinary L-FABP at these cut-off levels were 100 %. There was no difference in terms of serum and urinary L-FABP between compensated and decompensated cirrhosis patients. Accordingly, no correlation was determined between serum/urinary L-FABP levels and cirrhosis complications.&#x0D; Conclusion: L-FABP increases in serum and urine in response to hepatocyte damage that can result in liver fibrosis. We demonstrated that patients with liver cirrhosis had high L-FABP levels. L-FABP may be used as a predictive non-invasive marker of cirrhosis as it can be detected before the clinical symptoms of liver damage.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein might be a predictive marker of clinical response to systemic treatment in psoriasis

Fatty acid-binding proteins play an inconclusive role in lipid metabolism and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) which are closely related with psoriasis. Aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of serum liver fatty acid-binding protein (FABP1) level and associations with disease severity, inflammation or metabolic parameters and influence of systemic treatment in psoriatic patients. The study included thirty-three patients with active plaque-type psoriasis and eleven healthy volunteers. Blood samples were obtained before and after 12 weeks of therapy with methotrexate and acitretin. Serum FABP1 concentrations were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed for correlation of FABP1 with anthropometric, metabolic or inflammatory indices and treatment used. Serum liver-type FABP levels were significantly increased in psoriatic patients compared to the controls (p < 0.001). No statistical correlations between FABP1 and PASI (p = 0.25) was noted, however patients with severe psoriasis had the highest level of FABP1. No significance with metabolic parameters was obtained, beside a positive significant relation with BMI after therapy (p = 0.03). Liver-type FABP significantly correlated with CRP (p = 0.01) and morphotic blood elements. Systemic treatment combined resulted in significant decrease of FABP1 (p = 0.04), regardless of the drug: p = 0.1 in acitretin group, p = 0.3 in methotrexate group. Liver-type FABP might be a novel marker of psoriasis and predictor of clinical response to systemic therapy. FABP1 could be involved in CMDs risk assessment and perhaps link psoriasis with hematological disorders.

Assessment of Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein (L-FABP) as a Diagnostic Marker in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, it causes chronic hepatitis, which leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to assess the value of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in comparison to ultrasonography. Patients and Methods: Ninty subjects were enrolled in this study who attended the Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Internal medicine clinics in Benha University Hospitals between January 2017 and January 2018 and divided into group I included 70 consecutive patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who were diagnosed by ultrasound with or without elevated liver enzymes and group II included 20 healthy control subjects without NAFLD (by ultrasound) with normal liver enzymes. Serum levels of L-FABP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: NAFLD patients were slightly older than healthy subjects as mean age in group I was (37.74 ± 11.7) while in group II was (36.5 ± 11.31). There was a slight increase in NAFLD in males, there was a high prevalence of NAFLD in the urban population. L-FABP levels in NAFLD patients were higher than in the control group (levels were 188.6 ± 34.94 and 137.7 ± 13.05 ng/l respectively). A strong correlation was found between L-FABP and ALT, AST, BMI and glucose levels. Analysis of ROC curve revealed that at a level 151.1 ng/sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 83.3%, 71.8%, 31.3%, 96.6% and 73.3% respectively with AUC 0.839 and at a level 189.5 ng/sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 90%, 90%, 95.4%, 95.4%, 88.9% with AUC was 0.950. Conclusion: Serum L-FABP could be used as a new diagnostic biomarker for detecting NAFLD.

Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery: Risk Factors and Novel Biomarkers.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and severe complication after cardiac surgery. Currently, a series of novel biomarkers have favored the assessment of AKI after cardiac surgery in addition to the conventional indicators. The biomartkers, such as urinary liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), serum L-FABP, heart-type FABP, kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), and interleukin-18 were found to be significantly higher in patients who developed AKI after cardiac surgery than those who did not. Apart from urinary interleukin-18, the novel biomarkers have been recognized as reliable indicators for predicting the diagnosis, adverse outcome, and even mortality of AKI after cardiac surgery. The timing of the renal replacement therapy is a significant predictor relating to patients’ prognoses. In patients with AKI after cardiac surgery, renal replacement therapy should be performed as early as possible in order to achieve promising outcomes. In children, AKI after cardiac surgery can be managed with peritoneal dialysis. AKI after cardiac surgery has received extensive attention as it may increase early mortality and impact long-term survival of patients as well. The purpose of this article was to analyze the changes of the pertinent biomarkers, to explore the related risk factors leading to the occurrence of AKI after cardiac surgery, and to provide a basis for the clinical prevention and reduction of AKI.

Evaluation of Intestinal Damage Biomarkers in Calves with Atresia Coli.

IntroductionIntestinal obstruction such as atresia coli causes pathophysiological changes in gastrointestinal tissue due to the rise of intra-abdominal pressure. The aim of this study is to determine the intestinal damage with intestinal biomarkers in calves with atresia coli.Material and MethodsThe study was conducted on 40 Holstein calves diagnosed with atresia coli with mild to moderate abdominal distention and 10 healthy Holstein calves which served as the control. Blood samples were collected from all calves, and then serum concentrations of intestinal biomarkers were estimated, namely intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), using commercially available specific bovine ELISA kits. An automatic blood gas analyser was employed for determining the lactate concentration.ResultsThe concentrations of serum LFABP (P < 0.01), IFABP, TFF3, IAP, and blood lactate (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in calves with atresia coli than in healthy calves.ConclusionThe calves affected with atresia coli exhibited severe intestinal damage, and IFABP, LFABP, and TFF3 have significant diagnostic importance and play a useful role in determining the intestinal damage due to intestinal obstruction. High levels of IAP and lactate may serve as a signal for the development of intestinal injury.

Prediction of contrast induced acute kidney injury using novel biomarkers following contrast coronary angiography.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for contrast induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). Contrast angiography in CKD patients is a common procedure. Creatinine is a delayed marker of CI-AKI and delays diagnosis which results in significant morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of CI-AKI requires validated novel biomarkers. A prospective observation study of 301 consecutive CKD patients undergoing coronary angiography was performed. Samples for plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), serum liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), serum kidney injury marker 1, serum interleukin 18 and serum creatinine were taken at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 48 h post-contrast. Urinary NGAL and urinary cystatin C were collected at 0, 6 and 48 h. Incidence of major adverse clinical events (MACE) was recorded at 1 year. CI-AKI was defined as an absolute delta rise in creatinine of ≥26.5 µmol/l or a 50% relative rise from baseline at 48 h following contrast. CI-AKI occurred in 28 (9.3%) patients. Plasma NGAL was most predictive of CI-AKI at 6 h. L-FABP performed best at 4 h. A combination of Mehran score > 10, 4 h L-FABP and 6 h NGAL improved specificity to 96.7%. MACE was statistically higher at 1 year in CI-AKI patients (25.0 vs. 6.2% in non-CI-AKI patients). Mehran risk score, 4 h serum L-FAPB and 6 h plasma NGAL performed best at early CI-AKI prediction. CI-AKI patients were four times more likely to develop MACE and had a trebling of mortality risk at 1 year.

The Importance of Liver-Fatty Acid Binding Protein in Diagnosis of Liver Damage in Patients with Acute Hepatitis.

Acute hepatitis is acute inflammation of liver elicited by a large number of causes. It sometimes spontaneously recovers, sometimes may progress to chronic hepatitis. Liver- Fatty Acid Binding Protein (L-FABP) is a small protein that is abundant in hepatocytes, and which binds most of the long-chain fatty acids present in the cytosol. The present study was aimed to investigate the levels of serum and urine L-FABP in acute hepatitis and diagnostic value of serum and urine L-FABP levels in patients with acute hepatitis. The present study included a total of 85 patients. Total number of patients with acute hepatitis were 17 (five of acute hepatitis B, one of acute hepatitis A, two of acute hepatitis C, five of autoimmune hepatitis and four of toxic hepatitis), 19 of hepatic encephalopathy, 29 of liver cirrhosis, and 20 controls were included. Serum and urinary L-FABP levels were analyzed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Serum L-FABP levels were 9110±3352.5, 9410±1355, 9715±2462 and 3672±982.5 ng/l in patients with acute hepatitis, hepatic encephalopathy and cirrhosis and control subjects, respectively. There were statistically significant positive correlations between serum levels of L-FABP and Aspartate Aminotransferases (AST), Alanine Aminotransferases (ALT), Creatinine (Cre) and Gamma Glutamyl Transferases (GGT) (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). While the cut-off value of serum L-FABP for all of the patients was 5183 ng/l {p<0.001 and Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.985}, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.4% and 100%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values for serum L-FABP were 100% and 87%, respectively. Serum and urine L-FABP may be a new diagnostic marker for liver damage in patients with acute hepatitis. However, our study showed that except of aminotransferases, L-FABP should be used for diagnosis of liver damage in patients with acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and also cirrhosis.

Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein And Hemojuvelin - Potential Biomarkers For Liver Function in Rat Model.

Purpose. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the co-administration of aripiprazole and fluoxetine could produce impaired liver function in Wistar rats by means of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and hemojuvelin (HJV) serum levels. Furthermore, the experiment intended to assess the salivary levels of L-FABP and HJV and to determine whether they correlate with the serum levels of the two markers. Materials and Methods. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control (saline 10ml/kg), aripiprazole (4.05 mg/kg), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and aripiprazole + fluoxetine (4.05 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). The drugs were administered by gavage, daily at the same hour, along a 6 week period. L-FABP and HJV levels were determined in serum, from intraventricular blood, and in saliva. Also from intraventricular blood, serum levels for aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine amino transferase (ALAT) were assessed. Results. Positive and statistically significant correlations between serum and salivary levels of L-FABP and HJV were found. Aripiprazole + fluoxetine group experienced increased serum L-FABP levels than aripiprazole and fluoxetine groups, and salivary L-FABP as compared to aripiprazole group; but it registered decreased levels for serum and salivary HJV, for ASAT and ALAT than aripiprazole and fluoxetine groups, and for salivary L-FABP compared to fluoxetine group. Conclusions. The data indicate that: aripiprazole coprescribed with fluoxetine do not cause additional alterations in liver function; L-FABP and HJV levels can be helpful as biomarkers for impaired function of hepatocytes; and that their salivary determination can replace serum determination.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein as a diagnostic marker for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is a small cytoplasmic protein. The aim of the current study was to investigate L-FABP levels and to determine their diagnostic value for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We enrolled in this study 24 consecutive patients with NAFLD who were diagnosed with elevated transaminases and with steatosis by ultrasonograph. The control group consisted of 22 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. Serum levels of L-FABP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. L-FABP levels in NAFLD patients were higher than in the control group (levels were 41,976 ± 18,998 and 17048 ± 5021 pg/mL, respectively). A strong correlation was found between serum L-FABP concentrations and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, body mass index, glucose and γ-glutamyltransferase levels. A level of 284,000 pg/mL L-FABP had 73% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Positive and negative predictive values for L-FABP were 100 and 79%, respectively. Serum L-FABP can be considered as a new diagnostic marker for detecting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Is there an association between liver type fatty acid binding protein and severity of preeclampsia?

The aim of this study was to estimate the level of liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) in women with preeclampsia. A case-control study was conducted in 90 pregnant women who were divided into the following three groups: normal pregnancy (n = 30), mild-moderate preeclampsia (n = 30), and severe preeclampsia (n = 30). Maternal blood samples were obtained during an antenatal clinic visit in normal pregnant women, and at the time of diagnosis in women with preeclampsia. Serum LFABP levels were measured by the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Serum LFABP level was significantly higher in severe and mild-moderate preeclampsia groups than normal pregnancy group (1,709.90 ± 94.82, 1,614.93 ± 118.22, and 1,532.36 ± 140.98 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the severity of preeclampsia was correlated with LFABP level [unadjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.008 (1.003-1.012), p < 0.001 and LDH 1.063 (1.029-1.099), p < 0.001]. Maternal serum LFABP level appears to be correlated with the severity of the preeclampsia and can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Liver Fatty Acid-binding Protein Is A Diagnostic Marker to Detect Liver Injury Due to Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is a small molecule. The aim of this study was to examine L-FABP levels and to detect its diagnostic value in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We studied 22 patients with CHC and 20 healthy control subjects. Patients with persistently elevated serum aminotransferases and positive HCV RNA were included in the study. Patients with CHC underwent percutaneous liver biopsy. Serum level of L-FABP was determined by ELISA method. Patients with CHC had significantly increased levels of L-FABP compared to controls. A strong correlation between serum L-FABP concentrations and aspartate aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferases, HCV RNA levels and hepatic inflammation was found. When a cut-off value was 29,000 pg/mL for L-FABP, sensitivity and specificity were 75 and 100%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values for L-FABP were 100 and 78%, respectively. Serum L-FABP is used as a new diagnostic marker to detect liver injury.

Value of serum liver fatty acid-binding protein in monitoring of hepatic function after the ischemiareperfusion injury

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value and significance of serum liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat.Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group (group A) ; reperfusion after 15 min of ischemia group (group B) ; reperfusion after 30 min of ischemia group (group C).Each group was divided into 6 subgroups based on the time of reperfusion (15 min,1 h,3 h,6 h,1 d,3 d).The model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was established,the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and L-FABP were tested at each time point and the expression of L-FABP was tested by Immunohistochemical Fluorescence.The pathological changes observed in the liver and evaluated the changes by Suzuki's scoring system.Results Compared with group A,the changes of serum L-FABP:increased after 15 min of reperfusion [(0.57 ± 0.14) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05],reached the peak after 3 h of reperfusion [(1.70 ± 0.26) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05] and returned to normal at 3 d [(0.16 ± 0.05) μg/L,P ＞0.05] ; the changes of serum ALT and AST:no significant increase after 15min of reperfusion,reach the top at 6h and the level was still higher than normal at 3 d (P ＜ 0.05) ; L-FABP in liver tissue:the expression was decreased after 15min of reperfusion (0.148 ± 0.047,P ＜ 0.05),reached to the trough at 3 h (0.071 ± 0.019,P ＜ 0.05) and returned to normal at 3 d (0.142 ± 0.047,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group B,the level of serum L-FABP,AST and ALT in group C were significandy increased at each time point (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of L-FABP was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),the pathological changes were significantly worse.Conclusion Compared with the traditional indicator of liver function (ALT,AST),L-FABP is the more sensitive indicator to monitor the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury,and it consistents with the changes in the liver tissue pathology. Key words: Liver; Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury; Liver fatty acid-binding protein

Urinary liver fatty acid-binding protein: another novel biomarker of acute kidney injury

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) binds selectively to intracellular free unsaturated fatty acids and lipid peroxidation products during hypoxic tissue injury. Urinary L-FABP is a potential biomarker for the detection and assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI). Ferguson et al. have demonstrated in a cross-sectional study that urinary L-FABP is an excellent biomarker of AKI and may be useful in predicting dialysis-free survival. This study did not assess utility for early diagnosis of AKI.