Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University,
School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey | Institute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University,
Istanbul, Turkey | Department of Gastroenterology, G\"{u}lhane Military
Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey | Marmara University, School of Medicine, Istanbul,
Turkey | Department of Gastroenterology, Goztepe Education and
Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Note: [] Corresponding author: Yusuf Yilmaz, Institute of
Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Maltepe, 34840, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel.:
+90 533 440 3995; Fax: +90 216 688 6681; E-mail: yusufyilmaz@uludag.edu.tr
Abstract: Background: Elevated progranulin levels are associated with visceral
obesity, elevated plasma glucose, and dyslipidemia. Progranulin has not been
previously investigated as a biomarker of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD). We sought to determine whether serum progranulin levels are altered in
patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and if they are associated with their
clinical, biochemical, and histological characteristics. Subjects and methods: We measured serum progranulin levels in 95 patients with
biopsy-proven NAFLD and 80 age- and sex-matched controls. The potential
associations between progranulin and the characteristics of NAFLD patients were
examined by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in NAFLD patients (34 ± 13
ng/mL) than in controls (28 ± 7 ng/mL, P < 0.001). In NAFLD patients,
serum progranulin levels were associated with lipid levels and the degree of
hepatic fibrosis. After adjustment for potential confounders, serum progranulin
remained an independent predictor of the degree of hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD
patients (β = 0.392; t = 2.226, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Compared with controls, NAFLD patients have higher serum progranulin
concentrations, which are closely associated with lipid values and the extent
of hepatic fibrosis.
