title: Hepatic chemerin mRNA expression is reduced in human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemerin is associated with insulin resistance and is expressed in the liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to impaired insulin sensitivity, but studies evaluating hepatic and serum chemerin in NAFLD resulted in discordant data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemerin mRNA was determined in the liver tissue obtained from 33 controls and 76 NAFLD patients. Chemerin serum levels were measured in a different cohort of patients with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD and the respective controls. Hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes were exposed to selected metabolites and nuclear receptor agonists to study the regulation of chemerin. Effect of recombinant chemerin on hepatocyte released proteins was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatic chemerin expression was not related to BMI, gender, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Chemerin mRNA did not correlate with steatosis and was negatively associated with inflammation, fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) score. Patients with NASH had lower chemerin mRNA compared to those with borderline NASH and controls. Factors with a role in NASH mostly did not regulate chemerin in the liver cells. Of note, liver X receptor agonist reduced chemerin protein. Serum chemerin was not changed in NAFLD. Levels positively correlated with age, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, serum FGF21 and lipocalin 2, and negatively with transferrin saturation. Chemerin induced FGF21 in supernatants of primary human hepatocytes. Hepcidin, a major regulator of iron homoeostasis and lipocalin 2, were not regulated by chemerin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemerin mRNA is reduced in the liver of NASH patients, and liver X receptor seems to have a role herein.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Rebekka
authors: R
authors: Pohl
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Elisabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Haberl
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Rein-Fischboeck
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Zimny
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Maximilian
authors: M
authors: Neumann
authors: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Charalampos
authors: C
authors: Aslanidis
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Schacherer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.|Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Krautbauer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Eisinger
authors: Children's University Hospital (KUNO), Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Thomas S
authors: TS
authors: Weiss
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Buechler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015897:Comorbidity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000494:pharmacology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D000071068:Lipocalin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors / Q000819:agonists; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D064451:Hepcidins; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D013449:Sulfonamides; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human; C423915:T0901317; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21
keywords: FGF21; hepatic stellate cells; hepatocytes; hepcidin