Plasma Cytokeratin-18 Fragment Level Reflects the Metabolic Phenotype in Obesity.
Joanna GóralskaUrszula RaznyAnna GrucaAnna ZdzienickaAgnieszka M MicekAldona Dembinska-KiecBogdan SolnicaMalgorzata Malczewska-MalecPublished in: Biomolecules (2023)
There is growing interest in the non-invasive identification and monitoring of the outcome of liver damage in obese patients. Plasma cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) fragment levels correlate with the magnitude of hepatocyte apoptosis and have recently been proposed to independently predict the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of the study was to analyze the associations of CK-18 with obesity and related complications: insulin resistance, impaired lipid metabolism and the secretion of hepatokines, adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The study involved 151 overweight and obese patients (BMI 25-40), without diabetes, dyslipidemia or apparent liver disease. Liver function was assessed based on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and the fatty liver index (FLI). CK-18 M30 plasma levels, FGF-21, FGF-19 and cytokines were determined by ELISA. CK-18 values >150 U/l were accompanied by high ALT, GGT and FLI, insulin resistance, postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, elevated FGF-21 and MCP-1 and decreased adiponectin. ALT activity was the strongest independent factor influencing high CK-18 plasma levels, even after an adjustment for age, sex and BMI [β coefficient (95%CI): 0.40 (0.19-0.61)]. In conclusion, the applied CK-18 cut-off point at 150 U/l allows to distinguish between two metabolic phenotypes in obesity.
Keyphrases
- insulin resistance
- obese patients
- metabolic syndrome
- bariatric surgery
- protein kinase
- weight loss
- type diabetes
- high fat diet induced
- weight gain
- adipose tissue
- high fat diet
- gastric bypass
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- roux en y gastric bypass
- skeletal muscle
- glycemic control
- oxidative stress
- body mass index
- cardiovascular disease
- magnetic resonance
- cell death
- risk factors
- physical activity
- computed tomography
- blood pressure