Background. Chemerin and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) are adipokines which may play a role in the progression of NAFLD. It has been also suggested that cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) could be a marker of hepatocyte caspase-directed death while transgelin-2 production could reflect stage of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the above adipokines in sera of patients with NAFLD and determine the relation between the level of transgelin-2 and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4).
Material and methods: Ninety-five subjects included initially to the study were divided into four groups: (I) prediabetics, obese with NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (MS), (II) lean with NAFLD and without MS, (III) obese without NAFLD and MS, and (IV) healthy individuals. We determined the levels of chemerin, RBP-4, transgelin-2 and CK-18 fragments in sera of patients with NAFLD. Moreover, we examined if the levels of CK-18 fragments and transgelin-2 correlates with FIB4 value.
Results: Chemerin and RBP-4 were highly expressed in sera of all NAFLD, especially in obese individuals. Chemerin level was also linked to MS. High level of serum CK-18 fragments and transgelin-2 did not correlate with obesity and MS, but seemed to correlate with progression of NAFLD to liver fibrosis.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the production of the two adipokines, chemerin and RBP-4, is strongly associated with obesity in patients with NAFLD. Serum concentrations of CK-18 fragments and transgelin-2 correlate with the severity of NAFLD, but no with obesity.