title: Evaluation of serum neopterin levels and its relationship with adipokines in pediatric obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and healthy adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with inflammation and increased risk of atherosclerosis. Neopterin is regarded as a biochemical marker of cell-mediated immunity, which is secreted by monocytes and macrophages, mainly in response to interferon-gamma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum neopterin levels in obese adolescents and compare the neopterin levels in patients with and without NAFLD and also with healthy controls. The second aim of the study was to research the possible relationship between neopterin levels and adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three obese adolescents (39 with NAFLD, 54 without NAFLD) and 55 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of neopterin and adipokines were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum neopterin levels were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (3.20 ± 0.09 nmol/L) than in their healthy peers (2.91 ± 0.08 nmol/L) (p=0.020). Neopterin levels were positively correlated with leptin levels in obese patients (r=0.380, p<0.001) and in the group comprising all individuals (r=0.206, p<0.05). There was no correlation between neopterin concentrations and relative weight, alanin aminotransferase, adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum neopterin levels were significantly higher in obese adolescents with fatty liver disease compared to controls, and this may be related to increased cell-mediated immunity in fatty liver disease.
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokgoz
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.forename: Memduh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bulbul
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sayın
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harmancı
authors.forename: Gul Guner
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Akdogan
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D019798:Neopterin