Research Article Details
Article ID: | A25923 |
PMID: | 21324757 |
Source: | Dig Liver Dis |
Title: | High liver RBP4 protein content is associated with histological features in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C and with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND AND AIM: To investigate the hepatic expression of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, and its association with biochemical and histological patterns of liver damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six genotype 1 CHC and 32 NASH patients were tested for hepatic RBP4 expression. Liver expression at immunostaining was scored as 0 (slight), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), and 3 (intense). In addition, the mRNA and the quantitative protein expressions of RBP4 were tested by PCR and by western blot, respectively, in 12 NASH and 28 CHC patients. Twelve subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy served as controls. RESULTS: Ten (31%), 16 (50%) and 6 (19%) NASH patients, and 21 (32%), 31 (47%) and 14 (21%) CHC patients had scores of 1, 2 and 3, respectively. All control subjects scored 0. In both CHC and NASH liver RBP4 scores were directly related to western blot (p=0.001 and p=0.03), not to mRNA expression (p=0.77 and p=0.40). Older age (OR, 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13), RBP4 score (4.26; 1.27-14.21) and HOMA (2.26; 1.15-4.42) were independently associated with steatosis≥10% in CHC patients. In NASH lobular inflammation (OR, 3.77; 95%CI, 1.01-24.22) and RBP4 score (4.87; 1.003-23.65) were the only risk factors for fibrosis ≥2 at logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Hepatic storage of RBP4, unrelated to its expression, could cause liver damage both in NASH and CHC. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.dld.2010.12.013 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
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I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |