Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin correlates with hepatocellular lipid content independent of insulin resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Abstract

AIMS/INTRODUCTION:

To explore angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL-8) levels, and its association with hepatocellular lipid content (HCL) and insulin resistance in patients with different extents of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In 48 adults were recruited, of which 12 had no NAFLD (HCL < 5.5%; group 1), 18 had mild NAFLD (5.5% ≤ HCL < 10.0%; group 2) and 18 had moderate-to-severe NAFLD (HCL ≥ 10.0%; group 3). The peripheral insulin sensitivity of all participants was monitored by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (M value), as well as the magnetic resonance image of HCL. Serum ANGPTL-8, blood glucose levels and lipid profiles were also recorded in the study.

RESULTS:

Group 3 had a worse metabolic profile, and had the highest ANGPTL-8 level (1,129 ± 351 pg/mL vs 742 ± 252 pg/mL, 765 ± 301 pg/mL, P = 0.001) compared with those in group 1 and group 2. In all metabolic profiles, HCL positively correlated the strongest with ANGPTL-8 (r = 0.436, P = 0.042). Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed ANGPTL-8 and alanine aminotransferase were independent determinants of HCL (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, respectively), and these two indexes explained 67.4% of the variation of HCL (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

ANGPTL-8 was positively correlated with hepatocellular lipid content independent of obesity and insulin resistance, indicating that ANGPTL-8 might be a new and important important predictor of the severity of NAFLD.

• Authors: Beverly S Hong, Juan Liu, Jing Zheng, Weijian Ke, Zhimin Huang, Xuesi Wan, Xiaoying He, Haipeng Xiao, Yanbing Li
• Journal: Journal of diabetes investigation (J Diabetes Investig) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. 952-958 (Jul 2018) ISSN: 2040-1124 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 29266821 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Chemical References

• ANGPTL8 protein, human
• Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8
• Angiopoietin-like Proteins
• Peptide Hormones

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8
• Angiopoietin-like Proteins (blood)
• Female
• Hepatocytes (metabolism)
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Lipid Metabolism
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (complications, metabolism)
• Obesity (complications, metabolism)
• Peptide Hormones (blood)