Correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease features and levels of adipokines and inflammatory cytokines among morbidly obese individuals

Abstract

Background – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest hepatopathy worldwide. Objective – To investigate the correlations between NAFLD histopathological features and the levels of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) and circulating inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and C-reactive protein [CRP]). Methods – This is an exploratory cross-sectional study, which enrolled 19 women with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. Biochemical characteristics evaluated included the levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and CRP. NAFLD was assessed through histological examination of liver biopsies carried out during the surgical procedures. Results – The mean age of the study group was 37.3±8.2 years old; mean BMI was 36.2±2.5 kg/m 2 . Among individuals with liver fibrosis, the levels of IL-8 were significantly higher (24.4 ± 9.7 versus 12.7 ± 6.6; P=0.016726). The intensity of fibrosis presented a significant negative correlation with the levels of adiponectin (R=-0.49379; P=0.03166); i.e. the higher the levels of adiponectin, the lower the intensity of fibrosis. The intensity of steatohepatitis presented a significant negative correlation with the levels of adiponectin (R=-0.562321; P=0.01221); this means that the higher the levels of adiponectin, the lower the intensity of steatohepatitis. Conclusion – Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with the severity of fibrosis and steatohepatitis, whereas IL-8 levels were higher in individuals with liver fibrosis among individuals with obesity and NAFLD undergoing bariatric surgery. The use of these markers to assess NAFLD may bring significant information within similar populations.