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R A, P R, Vm V, Sn MS. Circulating Chemerin Levels in Obese and Non-obese Individuals and Its Association With Obesity in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Cureus 2024; 16:e68105. [PMID: 39347124 PMCID: PMC11438025 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.68105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The prevalence of obesity and related disorders is rapidly rising due to altered food habits, sedentary lifestyles and stress. Adipose tissue releases various hormones known as adipokines; one example is chemerin, which is primarily expressed by hepatocytes, adipocytes, and immune cells. Adipokine dysregulation in obesity initiates the cascade of inflammation and insulin resistance that leads to various metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome (MS), and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Aim The aim of our research is to determine serum chemerin levels in obese and non-obese individuals and to estimate the prevalence of MAFLD in obesity. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Tamil Nadu from August 2023 to December 2023. The study group comprised 45 obese and 45 non-obese individuals above 18 years of age. New MAFLD diagnostic criteria and FLI (Fatty Liver Index) formula were used to stratify the cohort. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise questionnaire was used to assess physical activity levels. Visceral fat was assessed using a body composition analyzer. Student's t-test and ANOVA were used to compare the difference in mean levels across the groups. Pearson's correlation was used to correlate the analyzed parameters. Results Among our obese study participants, nearly 50% reported following a sedentary lifestyle. The prevalence of MAFLD in our obese study group was 44% whereas the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty disease was found to be only 33%. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, triglycerides (TG) and chemerin levels were found to vary significantly between the two groups. However, our study did not reveal the association of chemerin with MAFLD, BMI, or visceral fat in obesity. A significant difference in BMI, and visceral fat was observed across groups stratified by their physical activity levels assessed using the Godin leisure questionnaire. Conclusion Our study highlights the effect of physical activity on adipose tissue distribution and metabolic health and does not reveal any significant association of chemerin with MAFLD, BMI, or visceral fat in obesity. Nearly half of the studied obese individuals lead sedentary lifestyles, which highlights the importance of promoting physical activity in the prevention of obesity and related metabolic dysfunction. To validate these findings, future research should involve larger, diverse cohorts and include longitudinal data to track shifts in chemerin levels over time and their impact on metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aravindraj R
- Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chengalpattu, IND
| | - Renuka P
- Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chengalpattu, IND
| | - Vinodhini Vm
- Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chengalpattu, IND
| | - Meenakshi Sundari Sn
- Department of Internal Medicine, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chengalpattu, IND
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Goldberg DT, Yaskolka Meir A, Tsaban G, Rinott E, Kaplan A, Zelicha H, Klöting N, Ceglarek U, Iserman B, Shelef I, Rosen P, Blüher M, Stumvoll M, Etzion O, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB, Shai I. Novel proteomic signatures may indicate MRI-assessed intrahepatic fat state and changes: The DIRECT PLUS clinical trial. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00821. [PMID: 38537153 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS We demonstrated in the randomized 18-month DIRECT PLUS trial (n = 294) that a Mediterranean (MED) diet, supplemented with polyphenol-rich Mankai duckweed, green tea, and walnuts and restricted in red/processed meat, caused substantial intrahepatic fat (IHF%) loss compared with 2 other healthy diets, reducing NAFLD by half, regardless of similar weight loss. Here, we investigated the baseline proteomic profile associated with IHF% and the changes in proteomics associated with IHF% changes induced by lifestyle intervention. APPROACH AND RESULTS We calculated IHF% by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (normal IHF% <5% and abnormal IHF% ≥5%). We assayed baseline and 18-month samples for 95 proteomic biomarkers.Participants (age = 51.3 ± 10.8 y; 89% men; and body mass index = 31.3 ± 3.9 kg/m 2 ) had an 89.8% 18-month retention rate; 83% had eligible follow-up proteomics measurements, and 78% had follow-up proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At baseline, 39 candidate proteins were significantly associated with IHF% (false discovery rate <0.05), mostly related to immune function pathways (eg, hydroxyacid oxidase 1). An IHF% prediction based on the DIRECT PLUS by combined model ( R2 = 0.47, root mean square error = 1.05) successfully predicted IHF% ( R2 = 0.53) during testing and was stronger than separately inputting proteins/traditional markers ( R2 = 0.43/0.44). The 18-month lifestyle intervention induced changes in 18 of the 39 candidate proteins, which were significantly associated with IHF% change, with proteins related to metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and immune function pathways. Thrombospondin-2 protein change was higher in the green-MED compared to the MED group, beyond weight and IHF% loss ( p = 0.01). Protein principal component analysis revealed differences in the third principal component time distinct interactions across abnormal/normal IHF% trajectory combinations; p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest novel proteomic signatures that may indicate MRI-assessed IHF state and changes during lifestyle intervention. Specifically, carbonic anhydrase 5A, hydroxyacid oxidase 1, and thrombospondin-2 protein changes are independently associated with IHF% change, and thrombospondin-2 protein change is greater in the green-MED/high polyphenols diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana T Goldberg
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Anat Yaskolka Meir
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gal Tsaban
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ehud Rinott
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alon Kaplan
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hila Zelicha
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nora Klöting
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uta Ceglarek
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Berend Iserman
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ilan Shelef
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Philip Rosen
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Stumvoll
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ohad Etzion
- Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Soroka University Medical Center, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Meir J Stampfer
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Frank B Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Iris Shai
- The Health & Nutrition Innovative International Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Huebbe P, Bilke S, Rueter J, Schloesser A, Campbel G, Glüer CC, Lucius R, Röcken C, Tholey A, Rimbach G. Human APOE4 Protects High-Fat and High-Sucrose Diet Fed Targeted Replacement Mice against Fatty Liver Disease Compared to APOE3. Aging Dis 2024; 15:259-281. [PMID: 37450924 PMCID: PMC10796091 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent genome- and exome-wide association studies suggest that the human APOE ε4 allele protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while ε3 promotes hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis. The present study aimed at examining the APOE genotype-dependent development of fatty liver disease and its underlying mechanisms in a targeted replacement mouse model. Male mice expressing the human APOE3 or APOE4 protein isoforms on a C57BL/6J background and unmodified C57BL/6J mice were chronically fed a high-fat and high-sucrose diet to induce obesity. After 7 months, body weight gain was more pronounced in human APOE than endogenous APOE expressing mice with elevated plasma biomarkers suggesting aggravated metabolic dysfunction. APOE3 mice exhibited the highest liver weights and, compared to APOE4, massive hepatic steatosis. An untargeted quantitative proteome analysis of the liver identified a high number of proteins differentially abundant in APOE3 versus APOE4 mice. The majority of the higher abundant proteins in APOE3 mice could be grouped to inflammation and damage-associated response, and lipid storage, amongst others. Results of the targeted qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses contribute to the overall finding that APOE3 as opposed to APOE4 promotes hepatic steatosis, inflammatory- and damage-associated response signaling and fibrosis in the liver of obese mice. Our experimental data substantiate the observation of an increased NAFLD-risk associated with the human APOEε3 allele, while APOEε4 appears protective. The underlying mechanisms of the protection possibly involve a higher capacity of nonectopic lipid deposition in subcutaneous adipose tissue and lower hepatic pathogen recognition in the APOE4 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Huebbe
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Bilke
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics & Bioanalytics, Kiel University, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Johanna Rueter
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Anke Schloesser
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Graeme Campbel
- Section Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Claus-C. Glüer
- Section Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ralph Lucius
- Anatomical Institute, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Department of Pathology, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics & Bioanalytics, Kiel University, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Gerald Rimbach
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
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Schmid A, Roderfeld M, Karrasch T, Roeb E, Schäffler A. Serum Chemerin Is Decreased by Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Low Calorie-Formula Diet in Obese Individuals. Biomedicines 2023; 12:33. [PMID: 38255140 PMCID: PMC10813162 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The pleiotropic chemokine chemerin is involved in multiple processes in metabolism and inflammation. The present study aimed to elucidate its regulation in morbid obesity and during therapy-induced rapid weight loss. A total of 128 severely obese patients were enrolled, and their basal anthropometric and clinical parameters were assessed. In total, 64 individuals attended a conservative 12-month weight loss program that included a low calorie-formula diet (LCD), and 64 patients underwent bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, RYGB). Blood serum was obtained at study baseline and at follow-up visits after 3, 6, and 12 months. Systemic chemerin concentrations, as well as metabolic and immunological parameters, were quantified. During the 12-month period studied, serum chemerin levels decreased significantly with weight loss after bariatric surgery, as well as with conservative low calorie therapy; however, the effects of RYGB were generally stronger. No substantial associations of systemic chemerin concentrations with therapy-induced improvement of type 2 diabetes and with indicators of liver function and fibrosis were observed. We conclude that systemic chemerin levels decrease in obese individuals during weight loss, regardless of the therapeutic strategy. A potential involvement in weight loss-associated improvement of metabolic disorders and liver fibrosis remains to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Roderfeld
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Karrasch
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Elke Roeb
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schäffler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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Lin X, Qu J, Yin L, Wang R, Wang X. Aerobic exercise-induced decrease of chemerin improved glucose and lipid metabolism and fatty liver of diabetes mice through key metabolism enzymes and proteins. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2023; 1868:159409. [PMID: 37871796 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Our previous studies have implicated an important role of adipokine chemerin in exercise-induced improvements of glycolipid metabolism and fatty liver in diabetes rat, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study first used an exogenous chemerin supplement to clarify the roles of decreased chemerin in exercised diabetes mice and possible mechanisms of glucose and lipid metabolism key enzymes and proteins [such as adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)]. In addition, two kinds of adipose-specific chemerin knockout mice were generated to demonstrate the regulation of chemerin on glucose and lipid metabolism enzymes and proteins. We found that in diabetes mice, exercise-induced improvements of glucose and lipid metabolism and fatty liver, and exercise-induced increases of ATGL, LPL, and GLUT4 in liver, gastrocnemius and fat were reversed by exogenous chemerin. Furthermore, in chemerin knockdown mice, chemerin(-/-)∙adiponectin mice had lower body fat mass, improved blood glucose and lipid, and no fatty liver; while chemerin(-/-)∙fabp4 mice had hyperlipemia and unchanged body fat mass. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), ATGL, LPL, GLUT4 and PEPCK in the liver and gastrocnemius had improve changes in chemerin(-/-)·adiponectin mice while deteriorated alterations in chemerin(-/-)·fabp4 mice, although PPARγ, ATGL, LPL, and GLUT4 increased in the fat of two kinds of chemerin(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased chemerin exerts an important role in exercise-induced improvements of glucose and lipid metabolism and fatty liver in diabetes mice, which was likely to be through PPARγ mediating elevations of ATGL, LPL and GLUT4 in peripheral metabolic organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Lin
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jing Qu
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lijun Yin
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ru Wang
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
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Huber K, Szerenos E, Lewandowski D, Toczylowski K, Sulik A. The Role of Adipokines in the Pathologies of the Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14684. [PMID: 37834128 PMCID: PMC10572192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adipokines are protein hormones secreted by adipose tissue in response to disruptions in physiological homeostasis within the body's systems. The regulatory functions of adipokines within the central nervous system (CNS) are multifaceted and intricate, and they have been identified in a number of pathologies. Therefore, specific adipokines have the potential to be used as biomarkers for screening purposes in neurological dysfunctions. The systematic review presented herein focuses on the analysis of the functions of various adipokines in the pathogenesis of CNS diseases. Thirteen proteins were selected for analysis through scientific databases. It was found that these proteins can be identified within the cerebrospinal fluid either by their ability to modify their molecular complex and cross the blood-brain barrier or by being endogenously produced within the CNS itself. As a result, this can correlate with their measurability during pathological processes, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, depression, or brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kacper Toczylowski
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland
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Qin L, Wu J, Sun X, Huang X, Huang W, Weng C, Cai J. The regulatory role of metabolic organ-secreted factors in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1119005. [PMID: 37180779 PMCID: PMC10169694 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1119005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver, which is becoming a major global health problem, affecting about a quarter of the population. In the past decade, mounting studies have found that 25%-40% of NAFLD patients have cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD is one of the leading causes of death in these subjects. However, it has not attracted enough awareness and emphasis from clinicians, and the underlying mechanisms of CVD in NAFLD patients remain unclear. Available research reveals that inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and glucose and lipid metabolism disorders play indispensable roles in the pathogenesis of CVD in NAFLD. Notably, emerging evidence indicates that metabolic organ-secreted factors, including hepatokines, adipokines, cytokines, extracellular vesicles, and gut-derived factors, are also involved in the occurrence and development of metabolic disease and CVD. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the role of metabolic organ-secreted factors in NAFLD and CVD. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the relationship between metabolic organ-secreted factors and NAFLD as well as CVD, which is beneficial for clinicians to comprehensive and detailed understanding of the association between both diseases and strengthen management to improve adverse cardiovascular prognosis and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chunyan Weng
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingjing Cai
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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Adipokines in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Are We on the Road toward New Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets? BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081237. [PMID: 36009862 PMCID: PMC9405285 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an unmet medical need due to its increasingly high incidence, severe clinical consequences, and the absence of feasible diagnostic tools and effective drugs. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical data on adipokines, cytokine-like hormones secreted by adipose tissue, and NAFLD. The aim is to establish the potential of adipokines as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets for NAFLD. The limitations of current research are also discussed, and future perspectives are outlined. Abstract Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the major cause of chronic hepatic illness and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the future decades. NAFLD is also commonly associated with other high-incident non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular complications, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Aggravating the socio-economic impact of this complex pathology, routinely feasible diagnostic methodologies and effective drugs for NAFLD management are unavailable. The pathophysiology of NAFLD, recently defined as metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is correlated with abnormal adipose tissue–liver axis communication because obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and metabolic dysfunction prompt hepatic insulin resistance (IR), lipid accumulation (steatosis), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis. Accumulating evidence links adipokines, cytokine-like hormones secreted by adipose tissue that have immunometabolic activity, with NAFLD pathogenesis and progression; however, much uncertainty still exists. Here, the current knowledge on the roles of leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), visfatin, chemerin, and adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (AFABP) in NAFLD, taken from preclinical to clinical studies, is overviewed. The effect of therapeutic interventions on adipokines’ circulating levels are also covered. Finally, future directions to address the potential of adipokines as therapeutic targets and disease biomarkers for NAFLD are discussed.
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