Research Article Details
Article ID: | A26209 |
PMID: | 20887595 |
Source: | Hepatol Res |
Title: | Lower circulating levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, independent of insulin resistance, is an important determinant of severity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in Japanese patients. |
Abstract: | AIM:   The biological basis of variability in histological progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unknown. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the most abundant steroid hormone, has been shown to influence sensitivity to reactive oxygen species, insulin sensitivity and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α. Our aim was to determine whether more histologically advanced NAFLD is associated with low circulating levels of DHEA in Japanese patients. METHODS:   Serum samples were obtained in 133 Japanese patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and in 399 sex- and age-matched healthy people undergoing health checkups. Serum levels of sulfated DHEA (DHEA-S) were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS:   Serum DHEA-S levels in NAFLD patients were similar to those in the control group. Of 133 patients, 90 patients were diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): 73 patients had stage 0-2, and 17 had stage 3 or 4. Patients with advanced NAFLD (NASH with fibrosis stage 3 or 4) had lower plasma levels of DHEA-S than patients with mild NAFLD (simple steatosis or NASH with fibrosis stage 0-2). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for DHEA in separating patients with and without advanced fibrosis was 0.788. A "dose effect" of lower DHEA-S and incremental fibrosis stage was observed with a mean DHEA-S of 170.4 ± 129.2, 137.6 ± 110.5, 96.2 ± 79.3, 61.2 ± 46.3 and 30.0 ± 32.0 µg/dL for fibrosis stages 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The association between DHEA-S and severity of NAFLD persisted after adjusting for age, sex and insulin resistance. CONCLUSION:   Low circulating DHEA-S might have a role in the development of advanced NASH. |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2010.00704.x |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |