title: The relationship between hepatic resistin overexpression and inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between resistin and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not clear, some studies claimed that serum resistin levels were associated with neither the presence of NASH nor its severity, others declared that serum resistin was related with inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. Our animal study verified that the distribution of resistin in the liver is correlated with inflammation in NASH. However, there is no pertinent study in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with NASH, 28 simple steatosis, and 43 controls were recruited. Blood was collected for resistin, liver chemistries, fasting insulin and some metabolic parameters. Liver histology was scored according to NAFLD activity scoring system. Hepatic resistin expression was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry. Resistin protein expression was confirmed by western blotting in 13 patients with concomitant NAFLD and gallstone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum resistin was significantly elevated in both NASH and simple steatotic subjects compared with controls (all P < 0.05). Hepatic resistin was significantly increased in NASH patients in both mRNA and protein levels than those in simple steatosis and control subjects (all P < 0.05). Both serum and hepatic resistin had a correlation with obesity, but not with insulin resistance. The distribution of resistin positive cells was predominantly in perisinusoidal cells (such as Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells) in human NASH. Multivariate analysis revealed that waist-hip ratio, higher serum triglyceride, and hyperresistinemia were independent factors related to higher grade of steatosis; whereas hepatic resistin and serum cytokeratin predict NASH and severity of liver fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic resistin overexpression in NASH patients is associated with the severity of liver inflammation and fibrosis. Liver-derived resistin may be involved in the pathogenesis of human NASH.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 139 Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang 050051, China. zhaocy2005@163.com.
authors.forename: Cai-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wei-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D052243:Resistin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D052243:Resistin; D014280:Triglycerides; D007633:Keratins