Serum Level of Adiponectin Correlated with Gender and Genotype in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Adiponectin is well recognized as plasma physiologically active polypeptide hormone exclusively derived from human and animal mature adipocytes, with vigorous property in antidiabetic, antiobesity, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory processes. In this study, we investigated the correlation between serum adiponectin level and clinical and pathological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The study included 127 patients with CHC and 42 healthy volunteers as controls whose laboratory parameters and serum adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We demonstrated that a lower serum adiponectin level was associated with male gender, higher gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GGT), higher albumin, higher TNF-alpha, and steatosis grade. The higher level of serum adiponectin in patients with genotype 2a was demonstrated when compared with that in the patients with genotype 1b. Furthermore, of great interest, results suggested that the significant differences regarding viral genotype seemed to occur only in male patients with CHC but not in female patients. In conclusion, serum adiponectin was associated with gender, genotype, liver steatosis, and TNF-alpha in a Chinese population with CHC.

The promoting effect of adiponectin in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…In 2005, Tacke et al 26 first demonstrated elevated adiponectin levels in chronic liver disease, suggesting that adiponectin can serve as a biomarker for cholestasis. Moreover, Meng et al 27 showed the correlation of serum albumin and ALP levels with adiponectin. In addition, Kaser et al indicated that circulating adiponectin can reflect the severity of liver cirrhosis independent of the etiologies, and its correlation with insulin resistance is not found in cirrhotic patients 28.…”

Adiponectin, the Controversial Hormone

“…HCV genotype and viral load) (62) . A higher level of serum adiponectin was demonstrated in patients infected with HCV genotype 2a compared to patients with genotype 1b (61) . Thus, HCV genotype 2 might be directly involved in the development of hepatic steatosis (63) .…”

“…The fact that the plasma levels of adiponectin inversely correlate with steatosis in HCV infected subjects suggests that hypoadiponectine-mia may contribute to hepatic steatosis progression and liver injury in this population (58) . According to Meng et al, the decreased serum adiponectin on patients with CHC was associated with male gender, elevated γ-GT, albumin, and TNF-α, and steatosis (61) . Moreover, serum adiponectin correlated with viral factors (i.e.…”

“…Thus, HCV genotype 2 might be directly involved in the development of hepatic steatosis (63) . Meng et al suggested that the significant differences regarding viral genotype seemed to occur only in male patients with CHC but not in female patients (61) . According to Hsu et al Insulin resistance was higher in HCV genotype 1 patients compared to genotype 2 patients.…”

Selected adipocytokines and their potential role in the control of the course of chronic hepatitis B and C

“…Jedynie u pacjentów zakażonych genotypem 1 stężenie adiponektyny nie korelowało z wiremią, zapaleniem, włóknieniem czy stłuszczeniem wątroby, choć stłuszczenie występowało równie często jak w grupie zakażonych genotypem 3 [27]. Natomiast porównując genotypy 1b i 2a stwierdzono istotnie podwyższony poziom adiponektyny w grupie 2a, co mogłoby przyczyniać się do cięższego przebiegu zapalenia wątroby u tych pacjentów [28]. Stwierdzono również zależność odwrotnie proporcjonalną między surowiczym stężeniem adiponektyny a stopniem stłuszczenia, współczynnikiem aktywności histologicznej (HAI) oraz etapem włóknienia [29].…”