title: Insulin-like growth factor-I, inflammatory proteins, and fibrosis in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation may have a pathogenic role in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); by contrast, the role of anti-inflammatory molecules has not been addressed. Low circulating levels of the anti-inflammatory molecule IGF-I have been described in subjects with NAFLD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to elucidate the clinical significance of IGF-I in NAFLD and its relationship with inflammatory biomarkers and fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study and in vitro experiments on hepatic HepG2 cells at the Internal Medicine and Gastrointestinal and Liver Units of the Universities of Catanzaro and Palermo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 221 individuals with NAFLD diagnosed on ultrasonography (cohort 1) and 50 subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD (cohort 2) participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver ultrasonography was performed on cohort 1, and hepatic biopsies were obtained from cohort 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  NAFLD fibrosis and Kleiner scores were calculated. IGF-I and inflammatory biomarker plasma concentrations were assessed with specific assays. In the in vitro study, real-time RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression levels of acute-phase reactants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first cohort, circulating IGF-I levels showed an inverse correlation with NAFLD fibrosis score and inflammatory biomarkers; similarly in the second cohort, liver IGF-I mRNA levels and the fibrosis score showed a negative relationship. Finally, we showed that IGF-I was able to directly modulate the expression of acute-phase reactants, decreasing C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels and up-regulating albumin expression in HepG2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that evaluation of circulating IGF-I and proinflammatory markers might be useful to assess comprehensively the severity of the disease in individuals with NAFLD.
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna-Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Marta Letizia
authors: ML
authors: Hribal
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Procopio
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Petta
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Sciacqua
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Grimaudo
authors: Rosaria Maria
authors: RM
authors: Pipitone
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Perticone
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Sesti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002460:Cell Line; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I