Plasmatic higher levels of homocysteine in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Background\ud Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease, which includes a spectrum of hepatic pathology such as simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. The increased serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) may be associated with hepatic fat accumulation. Genetic mutations in the folate route may only mildly impair Hcy metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between liver steatosis with plasma homocysteine level and MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in Brazilian patients with NAFLD.\ud \ud Methods\ud Thirty-five patients diagnosed with NAFLD by liver biopsy and forty-five healthy controls neither age nor sex matched were genotyped for C677T and A1298C MTHFR polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP and PCR-ASA, respectively, and Hcy was determined by HPLC. All patients were negative for markers of Wilson’s, hemochromatosis and autoimmune diseases. Their daily alcohol intake was less than 100 g/week. A set of metabolic and serum lipid markers were also measured at the time of liver biopsies.\ud \ud Results\ud The plasma Hcy level was higher in NAFLD patients compared to the control group (p = 0.0341). No statistical difference for genotypes 677C/T (p = 0.110) and 1298A/C (p = 0.343) in patients with NAFLD and control subjects was observed. The genotypes distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (677C/T p = 0.694 and 1298 A/C p = 0.188). The group of patients and controls showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) for BMI and HOMA_IR, similarly to HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0,006), AST, ALT, γGT, AP and triglycerides levels (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between levels of vitamin B12 and Hcy concentration (p = 0.005).\ud \ud Conclusion\ud Our results indicate that plasma Hcy was higher in NAFLD than controls. The MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms did not differ significantly between groups, despite the 677TT homozygous frequency was higher in patients (17.14%) than in controls (677TT = 4.44%) (p > 0.05). The suggested genetic susceptibility to the MTHFR C677T and A1298C should be confirmed in large population based studies.The authors acknowledge the Pernambuco University, the Pediatrics Hematology and Oncology Center of Pernambuco University, the Liver Institute of Pernambuco, Federal University of São Paulo and Department of Pediatrics for their help in data collection and clinical analyzes. The authors declare that they do not have anything to disclose regarding funding from industries or conflict of interest with respect to this manuscript

Association of a variant in the regulatory region of NADPH oxidase 4 gene and metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Given the important contribution of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system to the generation of reactive oxygen species induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV), we investigated two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the putative regulatory region of the genes encoding NADPH oxidase 4 catalytic subunit (NOX4) and its regulatory subunit p22phox (CYBA) and their relation with metabolic and histological variables in patients with HCV.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud One hundred seventy eight naïve HCV patients (49.3% male; 65% HCV genotype 1) with positive HCV RNA were genotyped using specific primers and fluorescent-labeled probes for SNPs rs3017887 in NOX4 and −675 T → A in CYBA.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud No association was found between the genotype frequencies of NOX4 and CYBA SNPs and inflammation scores or fibrosis stages in the overall population. The presence of the CA + AA genotypes of the NOX4 SNP was nominally associated with a lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration in the male population (CA + AA = 72.23 ± 6.34 U/L versus CC = 100.22 ± 9.85; mean ± SEM; P = 0.05). The TT genotype of the CYBA SNP was also nominally associated with a lower ALT concentration in the male population (TT = 84.01 ± 6.77 U/L versus TA + AA = 109.67 ± 18.37 U/L; mean ± SEM; P = 0.047). The minor A-allele of the NOX4 SNP was inversely associated with the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the male population (odds ratio (OR): 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03 to 0.79; P = 0.025).\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The results suggest that the evaluated NOX4 and CYBA SNPs are not direct genetic determinants of fibrosis in HCV patients, but nevertheless NOX4 rs3017887 SNP could indirectly influence fibrosis susceptibility due to its inverse association with MS in male patients

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T (ALA222VAL) polimorphysm and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) -493G/T polymorphism in chronic hepatitis C patients from Northeast of Brazil

Introdução: A infecção crônica pelo vírus da hepatite C (VHC) está associada à presença da resistência insulínica e da esteatose hepática, independentemente dos fatores metabólicos do hospedeiro. A alteração na enzima MTHFR resulta em hiperhomocisteinemia, que altera o metabolismo intracelular dos lipídios e pode estar relacionada à esteatose hepática e à fibrose, em portadores do VHC. A redução da atividade hepática da MTP resulta em acúmulo de gordura nos hepatócitos, contribuindo para a severidade da esteatose hepática e da fibrose em portadores do VHC. Como objetivos foram estudados os polimorfismos 677 C/T do gene da MTHFR e -493 G/T do gene da MTP e sua relação com as variáveis clínicas, bioquímicas e histológicas em pacientes com infecção crônica pelo VHC. Métodos: 174 pacientes sem tratamento prévio com RNA do VHC positivo e com biópsia hepática foram genotipados para o polimorfismo 677C/T da MTHFR por Restriction Fragment Length Polymorfism-Polimerase Chain (PCRRFLP) e para -493G/T da MTP, por sequenciamento. Todos os pacientes tinham marcadores negativos para doença de Wilson, hemocromatose e doença autoimune, e também tinham baixa ingesta alcoólica, com menos de 100g/semana. Variáveis bioquímicas foram analisadas no momento da realização da biópsia hepática. Resultados: A frequência do genótipo TT do gene MTHFR foi de 9,8% nos pacientes com genótipo não 1 do VHC. No entanto, foi encontrada associação entre o genótipo TT x CT /CC do polimorfismo do gene MTHFR, com o grau de esteatose e fibrose em ambos os genótipos da hepatite C (p < 0,05). Uma diferença significativa foi encontrada em níveis plasmáticos de homocisteína em pacientes com esteatose (p = 0,03). A frequência do genótipo GG+GT do gene MTP foi de 56,8% nos pacientes com genótipo 1 do VHC com fibrose hepática grau 3+4 (OR 1,8, IC 95% 1,3-2,3). Foi observada uma associação direta entre a presença da esteatose hepática nos pacientes com VHC com o genótipo GG+GT do polimorfismo -493G/T do gene da MTP independentemente do genótipo do VHC (OR = 0,4, IC 95% 0,2-0,8, p = 0,01). Conclusões: o genótipo TT do polimorfismo C677T do gene da MTHFR foi mais frequente no genótipo não 1 do VHC, independentemente da classificação histopatológica, assim como a frequência do genótipo CT + TT na presença de fibrose grau 1+ 2 e da esteatose hepática. A hiperhomocisteinemia foi altamente prevalente em indivíduos com esteatose. Por outro lado, a presença do alelo G do do polimorfismo -493G/T do gene da MTP está associada a uma menor expressão da MTP hepática, protegendo contra a esteatose em pacientes com VHC do Nordeste do Brasil. Estudos adicionais em outras populações são necessários para avaliar melhor o papel desses polimorfismos em indivíduos infectados pelo VHCBackground: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection has been shown to promote insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis independent of host metabolic factors. A lower MTHFR activity is associated to hiperhomocysteinemia and also may be related to steatosis and fibrosis in CHC. Futhermore a reduction on hepatic MTP activity resulting in fatty liver and could contribute to the severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in CHC. The aim was to investigate this this polymorphism in the 677 C/T MTHFR and -493G/T MTP genes and there relation with metabolic and histological variables in patients with CHC. Methods: One hundred seven-four untreated patients with viral RNA and liver biopsy were genotyped for the 677C/T MTHFR and 493G/T MTP polymorphisms. The 677C/T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene was identified by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorfism- Polimerase Chain (PCRRFLP) and the 493 G/T polymorphism of the MTP gene was determined by direct sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products. All patients were negative for markers of Wilsons disease, hemochromatosis and autoimmune diseases and had current and past daily alcohol intake less than 100g/week. A set of metabolic markers were also measured at the time of liver biopsies. Results: Among subjects infected with CHC genotype non-1 the frequency of MTHFR genotypes TT was 9.8%. Nevertheless, association was found between the MTHFR genotype TT x CT/CC polymorphism and the degree of steatosis and fibrosis in both hepatitis C genotype (p < 0.05). A significant difference was found on plasma homocysteine levels in patients with steatosis (p=0.03). Among subjects infected with CHC genotype 1 with fibrosis grade 3+4 the frequency of MTP genotypes GG+GT was 56.8% (OR 1.8; CI 95% 1.3-2.3). Observed an association with steatosis as dependent variable identified in genotypes GG+GT as independent protective factors against steatosis (OR=0.4, CI 95% 0.2-0.8, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The presence of genotype TT of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was more common in CHC genotype non-1 infected patient regardless of histopathological classification and genotype CT+TT frequencies were significant in the presence of fibrosis grade 1+2 and of steatosis. On the other hand the presence of the G allele of MTP 493G/T, which is possibly associated with a lower MTP hepatic expression, protects against steatosis in CHC patients from northeast of Brazil. Additional studies in other populations are needed to further assess the role of this polimorphysm in CH

Combination of N-acetylcysteine and metformin improves histological steatosis and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Aim: There is no proven medical therapy for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Oxidative stress and insulin resistance are the mechanisms that seem to be mostly involved in its pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in combination with metformin (MTF) in improving the aminotransferases and histological parameters (steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning, and fibrosis) after 12 months of treatment. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients (mean age 53 +/- 2 years [36-68] and body mass index [BMI] 29 [25-35]) with biopsy-proven NASH were enrolled in the study. NAC (1.2 g/day) and MTF (850-1000 mg/day) were given orally for 12 months. All patients underwent evaluation of serum aminotransferases, fasting lipid profile and serum glucose, anthropometric parameters, and nutritional status at 0 and 12 months. A low calorie diet was prescribed for all patients. Results: Serum alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein, insulin, and glucose concentrations and thehomeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were reduced significantly at the end of study (P < 0.05). The BMI declined, but without statistical significance. Aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were not altered with the treatment. Liver steatosis and fibrosis decreased (P < 0.05), but no improvement was noted in lobular inflammation or hepatocellular ballooning. The NASH activity score was significantly improved after treatment. Conclusion: Based on the biochemical and histological evidence in this pilot study, NAC in combination with MTF appears to ameliorate several aspects of NASH, including fibrosis. Further studies of this form of combination therapy are warranted to assess its potential efficacy