title: Association between complement C3 and prevalence of fatty liver disease in an adult population: a cross-sectional study from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIHealth) cohort study.
abstract: Activation of the innate immune system plays a key role in the development of fatty liver disease (FLD). The complement system is a major humoral component of the innate immune response and complement C3 plays a central role, implying that C3 may be a powerful predictor or therapeutic target for FLD. However, few studies have assessed the association between C3 and FLD in a large population. Here we use a cross-sectional study to investigate the link between serum C3 levels and FLD. Participants were recruited from Tianjin Medical University's General Hospital-Health Management Centre. Serum C3 was measured using immunoturbidimetry method and FLD was diagnosed by liver ultrasonography. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between quartiles of C3 and FLD prevalence. The overall prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) were 37.3% and 10.1%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratio of having NAFLD or AFLD (only in males) in the fourth quartile of C3 compared with the first quartile was 4.13 times greater (95% confidence interval, 2.97-5.77) (trend P values < 0.0001) and 2.09 times greater (95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.18) (trend P values = 0.02). This is the first study to demonstrate that serum C3 levels are independently associated with a higher prevalence of NAFLD and AFLD (only in males) in an adult population. Further studies are needed to establish a causal link and determine the precise role of C3 in FLD.
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Qiyu
authors: Q
authors: Jia
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Chunlei
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Xia
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Hongmei
authors: H
authors: Wu
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Huanmin
authors: H
authors: Du
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Chongjin
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Hongbin
authors: H
authors: Shi
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Shaomei
authors: S
authors: Sun
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhou
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Honglin
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Song
authors: Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Yuntang
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Health Management Centre, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China; Nutritional Epidemiology Institute and School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors: Kaijun
authors: K
authors: Niu
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3