Serum adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in apparently healthy subjects.
Adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a cytoplasmic protein that is expressed in adipocytes and is closely associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationship between A-FABP as a surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in apparently healthy subjects. We assessed clinical and biochemical metabolic parameters and measured serum levels of A-FABP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 494 subjects who were divided into two groups according to the presence of NAFLD by abdominal ultrasonography. All parameters associated with metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (P<.001). A-FABP showed positive correlation with TNF-α, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and metabolic syndrome (P<.001) when adjusted for age and sex. The odds ratio for the risk of NAFLD in the highest tertile of A-FABP compared with the lowest tertile was 7.36 (CI 3.80-14.27, P<.001) after adjustment for age and sex; 4.52 (CI 2.22-9.20, P<.001) after adjustment for age, sex, HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome and 2.86 (CI 1.11-7.35, P<.05) after further adjustment for all metabolic parameters including TNF-α. The serum level of A-FABP was independently associated with NAFLD and showed significant correlation with TNF-α, HOMA-IR, and metabolic syndrome.
Kim
Young-Choon
YC
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Yong-Kyun
YK
Lee
Won-Young
WY
Kim
Hong-Joo
HJ
Park
Jung-Ho
JH
Park
Dong-Il
DI
Sohn
Chong-Il
CI
Jeon
Woo-Kyu
WK
Kim
Byung-Ik
BI
Park
Se-Eun
SE
Rhee
Eun-Jung
EJ
Park
Cheol-Young
CY
Oh
Ki-Won
KW
Park
Sung-Woo
SW
Kim
Sun-Woo
SW
Ryu
Seung-Ho
SH
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein