title: Pro-inflammatory and atherogenic circulating factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated to metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not elucidated if liver fat deposits associated to metabolic syndrome (MS) aggravate the atherogenic state. We evaluated, in MS patients, if the presence of non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis (HS) determines differences in inflammatory markers and VLDL characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients with MS were divided into 2 groups depending on the presence or absence of HS, assessed by ultrasound. Lipid profile, free fatty acids (FFA), VLDL composition, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HS patients presented increased triglycerides levels, HOMA-IR and FFA. Patients with HS showed a reduction in adiponectin (p = 0.04) and increase in hs-CRP (p = 0.02), independently of insulin-resistance (IR). FFA correlated positively with TNF-α (p = 0.04) and inversely with adiponectin (p = 0.01). hs-CRP correlated with all inflammatory markers, independently of IR: TNF-α (r = 0.34, p = 0.02), sVCAM-1 (r = 0.29 p = 0.03), sICAM-1 (r = 0.56, p = 0.01), adiponectin (r = -0.34, p = 0.04). HS patients presented higher VLDL mass and number of particles. Adiponectin correlated with VLDL cholesterol content (r = -0.47, p = 0.04), independently of IR. VLDL, once secreted, would suffer from changes, becoming more atherogenic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple HS would play an important role increasing cardiovascular risk, independently of IR. hs-CRP may represent a useful biomarker of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Lipids and Lipoproteins, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, INFIBIOC, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucero
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zago
authors.forename: Graciela I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Mabel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graffigna
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fainboim
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miksztowicz
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meroño
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belli
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levalle
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wikinski
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brites
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schreier
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL