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Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research

Elevated endotoxin levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Authors: Alison L Harte, Nancy F da Silva, Steven J Creely, Kirsty C McGee, Thomas Billyard, Elham M Youssef-Elabd, Gyanendra Tripathi, Esmat Ashour, Mohga S Abdalla, Hayat M Sharada, Ashraf I Amin, Alastair D Burt, Sudhesh Kumar, Christopher P Day, Philip G McTernan

Published in: Journal of Inflammation | Issue 1/2010

Abstract

Background

Emerging data indicate that gut-derived endotoxin may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation in insulin resistant states. This study aimed to examine the importance of serum endotoxin and inflammatory markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore the effect of treatment with a lipase inhibitor, Orlistat, on their inflammatory status.

Methods

Fasted serum from 155 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD and 23 control subjects were analysed for endotoxin, soluble CD14 (sCD14), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor II (sTNFRII) and various metabolic parameters. A subgroup of NAFLD patients were re-assessed 6 and 12 months after treatment with diet alone (n = 6) or diet plus Orlistat (n = 8).

Results

Endotoxin levels were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with controls (NAFLD: 10.6(7.8, 14.8) EU/mL; controls: 3.9(3.2, 5.2) EU/mL, p < 0.001); NAFLD alone produced comparable endotoxin levels to T2DM (NAFLD: T2DM: 10.6(5.6, 14.2) EU/mL; non-diabetic: 10.6(8.5, 15.2) EU/mL), whilst a significant correlation between insulin resistance and serum endotoxin was observed (r = 0.27, p = 0.008). Both sCD14 (p < 0.01) and sTNFRII (p < 0.001) increased with severity of fibrosis. A positive correlation was also noted between sTNFRII and sCD14 in the NAFLD subjects (r = 0.29, p = 0.004).

Sub-cohort treatment with Orlistat in patients with NAFLD showed significant decreases in ALT (p = 0.006), weight (p = 0.005) and endotoxin (p = 0.004) compared with the NAFLD, non-Orlistat treated control cohort at 6 and 12 months post therapy, respectively.

Conclusions

Endotoxin levels were considerably increased in NAFLD patients, with marked increases noted in early stage fibrosis compared with controls. These results suggest elevated endotoxin may serve as an early indicator of potential liver damage, perhaps negating the need for invasive liver biopsy. As endotoxin may promote insulin resistance and inflammation, interventions aimed at reducing endotoxin levels in NAFLD patients may prove beneficial in reducing inflammatory burden.

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Title: Elevated endotoxin levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Alison L Harte
Nancy F da Silva
Steven J Creely
Kirsty C McGee
Thomas Billyard
Elham M Youssef-Elabd
Gyanendra Tripathi
Esmat Ashour
Mohga S Abdalla
Hayat M Sharada
Ashraf I Amin
Alastair D Burt
Sudhesh Kumar
Christopher P Day
Philip G McTernan
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Inflammation / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1476-9255
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-7-15

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