scholarly journals Role of ceramide-to-dihydroceramide ratios for insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001860
Author(s):  
Maria Apostolopoulou ◽  
Ruth Gordillo ◽  
Sofiya Gancheva ◽  
Klaus Strassburger ◽  
Christian Herder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Liver Fat ◽  
Liver Fat Content ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

IntroductionSphingolipid accumulation has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A recent study showed that depletion of dihydroceramide desaturase-1 (DES-1) in adipose and/or liver tissue decreases ceramide-to-dihydroceramide ratios (ceramide/dihydroceramide) in several tissues and improves the metabolic profile in mice. We tested the hypothesis that ceramide/dihydroceramide would also be elevated and relate positively to liver fat content and insulin resistance in humans.Research design and methodsThus, we assessed total and specific ceramide/dihydroceramide in various biosamples of 7 lean and 21 obese volunteers without or with different NAFLD stages, who were eligible for abdominal or bariatric surgery, respectively. Biosamples were obtained from serum, liver, rectus abdominis muscle as well as subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue during surgery.ResultsSurprisingly, certain serum and liver ceramide/dihydroceramide ratios were reduced in both obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and related inversely to liver fat content. Specifically, hepatic ceramide/dihydroceramide (species 16:0) related negatively to hepatic mitochondrial capacity and lipid peroxidation. In visceral adipose tissue, ceramide/dihydroceramide (species 16:0) associated positively with markers of inflammation.ConclusionThese results failed to confirm the relationships of ceramide/dihydroceramide in humans with different degree of insulin resistance. However, the low hepatic ceramide/dihydroceramide favor a role for dihydroceramide accumulation in NASH, while a specific ceramide/dihydroceramide ratio in visceral adipose tissue suggests a role of ceramides in obesity-associated low-grade inflammation.

The Role of Visceral Adipose Tissue in the Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
An Verrijken ◽  
Sven Francque ◽  
Luc Van Gaal ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries, comprises a disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fatty liver develops when fatty acid uptake and de novo fatty acid synthesis exceed fatty acid oxidation and export as very low-density lipoprotein/triglycerides. Because of its high prevalence and its association with obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension, NAFLD has become an important public health problem. The pathogenesis of NAFLD has to date not been completely clarified. Research has been conducted regarding the role of insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Visceral adipose tissue has increasingly been recognised as a biologically active organ contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Its role in the development of fatty liver might be situated at several levels: as a source of free fatty acids, by the production of adipocytokines, as a cause of insulin resistance and by inflammation.

scholarly journals A214 BARIATRIC SURGERY PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE HAVE DIFFERENT VISCERAL ADIPOSE TISSUE GENE EXPRESSION COMPARED TO THOSE WITH NORMAL LIVER

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 245-247
Author(s):  
S Keshavjee ◽  
J Yadav ◽  
K Schwenger ◽  
S Fischer ◽  
T D Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
Healthy Liver ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes simple steatosis (SS) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It affects 74–98% of individuals with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery (BSX). Among several factors contributing to NAFLD pathogenesis, adipokines secreted by visceral adipose tissue (VAT) can play a role by regulating glucose/lipid metabolism and inflammation. Aims This study aims to determine if visceral adipose tissue adipokine and cytokine gene expression are associated with NAFLD (SS and NASH) at the time of BSX. Methods Patients were recruited from the Toronto Western Hospital Bariatric Clinic. Demographic data was recorded. The VAT and liver biopsies were collected at the time of bariatric surgery. VAT adipokines and other mediators were assessed by RT-PCR and included markers of thermogenic capacity, inflammation, fibrosis, adipokines, and others. Liver histology was assessed by a pathologist using the Brunt system and individuals were diagnosed as either SS, NASH, or having a healthy liver (HL). Blood samples were collected pre-BSX to measure liver and metabolic syndrome related parameters, including HOMA-IR, HbA1c, liver enzymes, and lipid profile. Anthropometry was also assessed. Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Wilcoxon ranked sum, or chi-square and Fisher’s exact test as necessary. Data was considered to be statistically significant with a p-value less than 0.05. Results We are presenting data on 126 patients, 80.2% females with a median age of 49 and a body mass index (BMI) of 46.9. Fifty-seven patients had SS, 34 had NASH and 35 had a healthy liver (HL). BMI, age, and sex did not differ between the three groups. First, we found that those with NASH had significantly higher VAT expression of fibrosis (Loxl2), inflammation (CCL4 and TGFb1) and proliferation markers (E2F1) and significantly lower expression of adipokines (TNFa and resistin) compared to HL. Also, we found that SS had significantly higher fibrosis (Col3a1, Col6a1, Loxl2, CD9 and Acta2), inflammation (Nox2, TGFb1, IFNg and Clec10a), browning (PPARa, PPARg and Glut1) and proliferation (E2F1) marker expression compared to HL. Conclusions Results show that there is a significant difference in the expression pattern of VAT fibrotic and inflammatory markers between HL, SS and NASH patients. The observed increase of inflammatory markers in NAFLD is in line with prior research outlining the ability of inflammatory mediators from VAT to contribute to liver pathology via portal circulation. The relationship between VAT characteristics and NAFLD are important in understanding the widespread metabolic effects of obesity. Funding Agencies CIHRCanadian Liver foundation

scholarly journals Association between Visceral Adipose Tissue and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Histology in Patients with Known or Suspected Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2565
Author(s):  
Ilkay S. Idilman ◽  
Hsien Min Low ◽  
Tolga Gidener ◽  
Kenneth Philbrick ◽  
Taofic Mounajjed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Alcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽  
Fat Fraction ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

(1) Purpose: To determine the association between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hepatic steatosis (HS), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis (HF) in patients with known or suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). (2) Methods: 135 subjects that had a liver biopsy performed within 3 months (bariatric cohort) or 1 month (NAFLD cohort) of an MRI exam formed the study group. VAT volume was quantified at L2-L3 level on opposed-phase images with signal intensity-based painting using a semi-quantitative software. Liver PDFF and pancreas PDFF were calculated on fat fraction maps. Liver volume (Lvol) and spleen volume (Svol) were also calculated using a semi-automated 3D volume tool available on PACS. A histological analysis was performed by an expert hepatopathologist blinded to imaging findings. (3) Results: The mean Lvol, Svol, liver PDFF, pancreas PDFF and VAT of the study population were 2492.2 mL, 381.6 mL, 13.2%, 12.7% and 120.6 mL, respectively. VAT showed moderate correlation with liver PDFF (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and weak correlation with Lvol (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), Svol (r = 0.20, p = 0.025) and pancreas PDFF (rs = 0.29, p = 0.001). VAT, Lvol and liver PDFF were significantly higher in patients with HS (p < 0.001), NASH (p < 0.05) and HF (p < 0.05). VAT was also significantly higher in the presence of lobular inflammation (p = 0.019) and hepatocyte ballooning (p = 0.001). The cut-off VAT volumes for predicting HS, NASH and HF were 101.8 mL (AUC, 0.7), 111.8 mL (AUC, 0.64) and 111.6 mL (AUC, 0.66), respectively. (4) Conclusion: The MRI determined VAT can be used for predicting the presence of HS, NASH and HF in patients with known or suspected NAFLD.

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