Simple steatosis is a more relevant source of serum inflammatory markers than omental adipose tissue.
OBJECTIVE
Serum inflammatory biomarkers are closely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the major source of these biomarkers is not yet determined. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether simple steatosis or visceral adiposity was a more relevant predictor for serum inflammatory biomarkers.


METHODS
A double approach was used: i) clinical: 50 patients with biopsy-proven simple steatosis, 50 non-simple steatosis overweight patients, and 50 controls were explored for their serum biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity, tumor necrosis factor α, and fibrinogen levels) and for visceral adiposity (measured by computed tomography); ii) experimental: using a rat simple steatosis model the effect of omentectomy on inflammatory biomarkers was investigated.


RESULTS
Serum inflammatory biomarkers were significantly higher in the simple steatosis group than in the overweight group. Using multivariate analysis, simple steatosis, visceral adiposity index and visceral adiposity were independently associated with inflammatory biomarkers. In particular, serum inflammatory biomarkers increased with the severity of liver histology (p<0.05), but no with visceral adipose tissue increase. In rats with simple steatosis, the omentectomy treatment was not associated with a decrease of serum inflammatory biomarkers in rats with simple steatosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical and experimental data both indicate that simple steatosis may be more associated with inflammatory biomarkers than omental adipose tissue.
Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 10, Changjiang Zhilu, Da Ping, Chongqing 400042, China.
Yan
Y
Li
Biowave Center and Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Lei
L
Liu
Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 10, Changjiang Zhilu, Da Ping, Chongqing 400042, China.
Bin
B
Wang
Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 10, Changjiang Zhilu, Da Ping, Chongqing 400042, China.
Jun
J
Wang
Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 10, Changjiang Zhilu, Da Ping, Chongqing 400042, China. Electronic address: chendf1981@163.com.
Dongfeng
D
Chen
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein