Serum concentrations of extracellular fatty acid synthase in patients with steatohepatitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is an enzyme synthesized by the liver and plays an important role in lipogenesis. The present study aimed to assess whether serum FASN concentrations are altered in patients with chronic liver disease, and to investigate whether its measurement may be a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of this derangement.

METHODS:

We investigated 93 patients with chronic liver disease (14 minimal change disease, 79 steatohepatitis) and 100 control subjects. Serum FASN concentrations were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS:

Patients had a significant increase in serum FASN concentration (p<0.001), which was specifically associated with the hepatic Knodell sub-index III of portal inflammation (p=0.019). In addition, serum FASN concentrations were significantly correlated with the circulating levels of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (Spearman rho=0.375; p<0.001) and type III procollagen-N-peptide (P-III-P) (Spearman rho=0.297; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Serum FASN concentrations are increased in patients with chronic liver impairment, and are associated with specific histological alterations and biochemical markers of portal inflammation. These data suggest that FASN measurement may contribute significantly to the evaluation of these patients.

• Authors: Judit Marsillach, Cristina Oliveras-Ferraros, Raúl Beltrán, Anna Rull, Gerard Aragonès, Carlos Alonso-Villaverde, Alejandro Vázquez-Martín, Jorge Joven, Javier A Menéndez, Jordi Camps
• Journal: Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine (Clin Chem Lab Med) Vol. 47 Issue 9 Pg. 1097-9 ( 2009) ISSN: 1437-4331 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19728851 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chemokine CCL2
• Peptide Fragments
• Procollagen
• procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide
• Fatty Acid Synthases

Topics

• Adult
• Chemokine CCL2 (blood)
• Fatty Acid Synthases (blood)
• Fatty Liver (diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Procollagen (blood)
• Severity of Illness Index