Search resultsActivated complement factor 3 is associated with liver fat and liver enzymes: The CODAM study
Title
Activated complement factor 3 is associated with liver fat and liver enzymes: The CODAM study
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2013
Authors
Journal
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume
43
Issue
7
Pagination
679 - 688
Date published
2013
ISBN
00142972 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, Aged, alanine aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase blood level, Alanine Transaminase, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic fatty liver disease, article, aspartate aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase blood level, Aspartate Aminotransferases, Biological Markers, C reactive protein, cohort analysis, complement activation, Complement C3a, complement component C3a, Complement system, Cross-Sectional Studies, cross-sectional study, fat content, fatty acid, fatty liver, Fatty Liver, Alcoholic, Female, gamma glutamyl transferase blood level, gamma glutamyltransferase, gamma-Glutamyltransferase, glomerulus filtration rate, glucose, glucose blood level, human, Humans, insulin, insulin blood level, insulin sensitivity, Liver, liver cell damage, liver enzyme, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, predictive value, priority journal, Prospective Studies, prospective study, Regression Analysis, signal transduction, spectrometry, Steatosis, triacylglycerol, triacylglycerol blood level, tumor necrosis factor alpha
Abstract
Background: The complement system may be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease, although studies in humans are scarce. For this reason, we investigated whether circulating levels of activated complement factor 3 (C3a) were associated with hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular damage. Materials and methods: Plasma C3a, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined in 523 individuals (61% men, age 59 ± 7 years). Liver enzymes (LEs) were standardized and compiled into a LE score. Liver fat content was estimated using a predictive equation that has recently been validated with magnetic resonance spectrometry. Cross-sectional associations between C3a and liver fat or LE s were investigated with multiple linear regression analyses, stratified in no-to-moderate vs. heavy alcohol consumers (men: > 30 g/day; women: > 20 g/day). Results: C3a was associated with liver fat percentage both in the no-to-moderate (β = 0·223; 95%CI 0·036; 0·409) and in the heavy alcohol consumers (β = 0·632; 95%CI 0·259-1·004; P-interaction = 0·047). C3a was also associated with the LE score in heavy alcohol consumers (β = 0·917; 95%CI 0·443-1·392), but not in no-to-moderate alcohol consumers (β = 0·042; 95%CI -0·198 to 0·281; P-interaction = 0·001). Conclusions: C3a levels, as a marker of complement activation, were associated with liver fat content and hepatocellular injury, at least in subjects who consume considerable amounts of alcohol daily. copy; 2013 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.