CCN3/NOV Serum Levels in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Patients in Comparison with the Healthy Group and their Correlation with TNF-α and IL-6

Reza Afrisham; Ghazal Alasvand; Yasaman Jadidi; Vida Farrokhi; Reza Fadaei; Shaban Alizadeh; Nariman Moradi

doi:10.2174/0115665240285539240214111947

CCN3/NOV Serum Levels in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Patients in Comparison with the Healthy Group and their Correlation with TNF-α and IL-6

Curr Mol Med. 2024 Feb 23. doi: 10.2174/0115665240285539240214111947. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Reza Afrisham¹, Ghazal Alasvand², Yasaman Jadidi¹, Vida Farrokhi³, Reza Fadaei⁴, Shaban Alizadeh³, Nariman Moradi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Tehran University of Medical Sciences Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences Tehran Iran.
² Peoples\' Friendship University of Russia Department of Research and innovation Moscow Russian Federation.
³ Tehran University of Medical Sciences Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine Tehran Iran.
⁴ Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Kermanshah Iran.
⁵ Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Liver and Digestive Research Center Sanandij Iran.

PMID: 38415473
DOI: 10.2174/0115665240285539240214111947

Abstract

Introduction: Adipokine irregularity leads to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance (IR), and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Previous studies linked NOV/CCN3 to obesity, IR, and inflammation, but no research has explored the connection between CCN3 serum levels and NAFLD.

Methods: This case-control study assessed CCN3, IL-6, adiponectin, and TNF-α serum levels in 80 NAFLD patients and 80 controls using ELISA kits. Biochemical parameters were measured with commercial kits and an auto analyzer.

Results: NAFLD patients exhibited significantly higher CCN3 (2399.85 ± 744.53 vs. 1712.84 ± 478.19 ng/ml), TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, and lower adiponectin levels compared to controls (P<0.0001). In the NAFLD group, CCN3 showed positive correlations with FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, and TNF-α. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed increased NAFLD risk in the adjusted model (OR [95% CI] = 1.220 [1.315 -1.131]). A CCN3 cut-off value of 1898.0050 pg/mL differentiated NAFLD patients from controls with 78.8% sensitivity and 73.2% specificity.

Conclusion: It was found that elevated CCN3 serum levels directly correlate with NAFLD incidence and inflammation markers (IL-6 and TNF-α). CCN3 could serve as a potential biomarker for NAFLD, but further research is needed to validate this finding and assess its clinical utility.

Keywords: NOV/CCN3; inflammatory cytokines; insulin resistance.; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.