title: Serum autotaxin is independently associated with hepatic steatosis in women with severe obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autotaxin (ATX) is an adipocyte-derived lysophospholipase that generates the lipid signaling molecule lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum ATX and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in females with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  101 nondiabetic women with obesity (age: 31.5-55.8 years; BMI: 35.0-64.5 kg/m2) were classified as having NAFLD (36.3%) or not having NAFLD (63.7%) based on the degree of hepatic steatosis on abdominal CT. Subjects were characterized for metabolic phenotype including measures of energy, glucose, and lipid homeostasis. Fasting serum adipokines and inflammatory markers were determined by ELISA. Linear regression analysis was used to determine features independently associated with NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with and without NAFLD differed in several key features of metabolic phenotype including BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, VLDL, triglycerides, and ALT. Serum adipokines, including ATX and leptin, were higher in subjects with NAFLD. Serum ATX was significantly correlated with alkaline phosphatase, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Linear regression analysis revealed that serum triglycerides and log-transformed ATX were independently associated with hepatic steatosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ATX may be a potential pathogenic factor and/or biomarker for NAFLD in nondiabetic women with obesity.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Vikrant P
authors: VP
authors: Rachakonda
authors: Valerie L
authors: VL
authors: Reeves
authors: Jules
authors: J
authors: Aljammal
authors: Rachel C
authors: RC
authors: Wills
authors: Joy S
authors: JS
authors: Trybula
authors: James P
authors: JP
authors: DeLany
authors: Petra C
authors: PC
authors: Kienesberger
authors: Erin E
authors: EE
authors: Kershaw
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D000099189:Lysophospholipase D
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D014280:Triglycerides; D000099189:Lysophospholipase D