title: Serum levels of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage are associated with hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) and adipocytokines are involved in the metabolic syndrome, which has been putatively associated with the progression of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, the association between these cytokines and CHC is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to test whether serum levels of AIM and adipocytokines are associated with histological features, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), or whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) in CHC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 77 patients with biopsy-proven CHC. In 39 patients without overt diabetes mellitus, a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and HOMA-IR and WBISI were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A serum AIM level of ≥ 1.2 μg/ml was independently associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis (F2 or F3) (odds ratio [OR], 5.612; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.103-28.563; P = 0.038) based on a multivariate analysis, but there was no significant association between AIM and hepatic steatosis or inflammation. Furthermore, a serum leptin level of ≥ 8.6 ng/ml was independently associated with the presence of hepatic steatosis (≥ 5%) (OR, 6.195; 95% CI, 1.409-27.240; P = 0.016), but not hepatic fibrosis or inflammation. No relationship was observed between levels of adiponectin or resistin and hepatic histological parameters based on a multivariate analysis. Although serum levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR and WBISI, there was no significant relationship between serum AIM levels and HOMA-IR or WBISI, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High serum levels of AIM in CHC patients are potentially related to advanced hepatic fibrosis. AIM and adipocytokines are possibly associated with pathological changes via a different mechanism.
authors: Kumiko
authors: K
authors: Mera
authors: Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan. hirouto@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Uto
authors: Seiichi
authors: S
authors: Mawatari
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Ido
authors: Yozo
authors: Y
authors: Yoshimine
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Nosaki
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Oda
authors: Kazuaki
authors: K
authors: Tabu
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Kumagai
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Tamai
authors: Akihiro
authors: A
authors: Moriuchi
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Oketani
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Shimada
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Hidaka
authors: Susumu
authors: S
authors: Eguchi
authors: Hirohito
authors: H
authors: Tsubouchi
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger / Q000097:blood*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D052243:Resistin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase