Serkan Tapan,
Teoman Dogru,
Muammer Kara,
C Nuri Ercin,
Guldem Kilciler,
Halil Genc,
Erdim Sertoglu,
Cengizhan Acikel,
Selim Kilic,
Yildirim Karslioglu,
Ismail Kurt, Mehmet K Erbil
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ABSTRACT: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. IL-18 is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of IL-18 with adiponectin and liver histology in subjects with NAFLD who had no additional disorder such as morbid obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Plasma levels of IL-18 and adiponectin were measured by ELISA in 96 male subjects with NAFLD [n = 65 for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and n = 31 for simple steatosis (SS)].
IL-18 levels were not different between the two groups (p = 0.89). There was no significant association of IL-18 with adiponectin, insulin resistance and histopathological findings. Adiponectin was lower in the NASH group compared to the SS group (p = 0.02) and it was found to be negatively correlated with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis (r = -0.442, p < 0.001 and r = -0.292, p = 0.02, respectively).
This study indicates that circulating IL-18 levels are not altered in male subjects with NAFLD. These results suggest that in the absence of metabolic risk factors, IL-18 per se may not be involved in the pathogenesis of NASH and SS.
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 10/2010; 70(6):399-403. · 1.38 Impact Factor
