Fetuin-A is a pro-inflammatory protein expressed by hepatocytes. Its course in morbidly obese patients with NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) following weight loss by BAS (bariatric surgery) has not been fully elucidated yet. In the present study, we prospectively examined the effects of weight loss on various metabolic factors at 4 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Blood and liver tissues were retrieved from 108 morbidly obese NAFLD patients before/during BAS, and 50 of these individuals met the criteria for NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Fetuin-A expression was measured by qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Hepatocyte apoptosis was quantified via M30 (caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 fragments). Plasma concentrations of adiponectin and fetuin-A were determined by ELISA. Serum-derived parameters were additionally taken at 4 weeks and 6 months post-operatively. In addition, primary human hepatocytes were treated with NEFA (non-esterified fatty acid) to investigate changes in fetuin-A. BMI (body mass index) decreased significantly from 53.0±1.1 to 36.4±1.9 kg/m2 in the NAFL group and from 53.3±1.1 to 37.6±1.2 kg/m2 in the NASH group (P<0.0001) at 6 months post-surgery. This was associated with diminishing M30 and M65 (total cytokeratin-18) levels over 6 months after surgery. Adiponectin levels increased continuously in NASH patients, whereas NAFL patients plateaued at 4 weeks post-operatively. Hepatic fetuin-A mRNA and protein expression was elevated before surgery-induced weight loss. However, plasma concentrations of fetuin-A increased signficantly in NASH patients 4 weeks post-operatively. Treatment of hepatocytes with NEFA led to up-regulation of fetuin-A expression. BAS probably has a beneficial effect on NAFLD, as indicated by reduced hepatocyte apoptosis and improved adipokine profiles. In addition, fetuin-A expression is more prominent in NASH.
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Research Article|
June 14 2013
Fetuin-A mRNA expression is elevated in NASH compared with NAFL patients
Alisan Kahraman;
Alisan Kahraman
1
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Jan-Peter Sowa;
Jan-Peter Sowa
1
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Martin Schlattjan;
Martin Schlattjan
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Svenja Sydor;
Svenja Sydor
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Martin Pronadl;
Martin Pronadl
†Department II of Surgery, Alfried-Krupp Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Alexander Wree;
Alexander Wree
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Anja Beilfuss;
Anja Beilfuss
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Alpaslan Kilicarslan;
Alpaslan Kilicarslan
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
‡Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Hospital Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
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Akif Altinbaş;
Akif Altinbaş
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Lars Peter Bechmann;
Lars Peter Bechmann
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Wing-Kin Syn;
Wing-Kin Syn
§Regeneration and Repair Group, Institute of Hepatology, London, U.K.
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Guido Gerken;
Guido Gerken
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Ali Canbay
*Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
Correspondence: Professor Ali Canbay (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 05 2012
Revision Received:
April 09 2013
Accepted:
April 30 2013
Accepted Manuscript online:
April 30 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Clin Sci (Lond) (2013) 125 (8): 391–400.
Article history
Received:
October 05 2012
Revision Received:
April 09 2013
Accepted:
April 30 2013
Accepted Manuscript online:
April 30 2013
Citation
Alisan Kahraman, Jan-Peter Sowa, Martin Schlattjan, Svenja Sydor, Martin Pronadl, Alexander Wree, Anja Beilfuss, Alpaslan Kilicarslan, Akif Altinbaş, Lars Peter Bechmann, Wing-Kin Syn, Guido Gerken, Ali Canbay; Fetuin-A mRNA expression is elevated in NASH compared with NAFL patients. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 October 2013; 125 (8): 391–400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20120542
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