title: Serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein concentrations in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests that zinc-α(2)-glycoprotein (ZAG) might serve as a biomarker for human metabolic alterations. We measured serum ZAG in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, and examined its association with clinical, biochemical, and histological phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum ZAG was determined using ELISA in 90 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 81 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ZAG concentrations did not differ in patients with NAFLD (median 61 μg/mL; interquartile range: 56-73 μg/mL) compared with healthy controls (median 66 μg/mL; interquartile range: 56-78 μg/mL, Mann-Whitney U-test, p=NS). However, among patients with NAFLD serum ZAG concentrations were significantly higher in males and in those with the metabolic syndrome. After stepwise linear regression analysis, serum ZAG concentrations were the only independent predictor of the number of metabolic syndrome components in patients with NAFLD (β=0.22; t=2.001, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, the hypothesis of an association between NAFLD and serum ZAG concentrations is not supported by the present results. However, ZAG remains an interesting molecule for further research in the field of human metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Altunizade, Istanbul, Turkey. yusufyilmaz@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yonal
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Cigdem Ataizi
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Celikel
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdogan
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imeryuz
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avsar
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein