Role of serum toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 2015-07, Vol.30 (7), p.1190-1196
• Main Authors: Cengiz, Mustafa, Ozenirler, Seren, Elbeg, Sehri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Dobutamine; Forecasting; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; NASH; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - blood; non-invasive marker; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - blood; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - blood; toll-like receptors
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12924

Background and Aim Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of chronic liver disease, including non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim was to investigate whether serum toll‐like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) levels are correlated with NASH and able to predict liver fibrosis, as well as to compare these markers with other non‐invasive fibrosis scores (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] to alanine aminotransferase ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, fibrosis index, fibrosis 4, and fibrosis cirrhosis index). Methods Serum samples were obtained from consecutive biopsy proven NASH patients and healthy controls. Serum TLR2 and TLR4 were measured using ELISA. Stage of fibrosis was evaluated using the Brunt Criteria. The different non‐invasive fibrosis scores were compared using areas under the curve. Results Fifty‐seven patients with NASH and 57 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Serum TLR2 levels were not significantly different between the healthy controls and NASH patients. The medians were 3.88 ng/mL ± 0.29 versus 3.81 ng/mL ± 0.32, respectively (P = 0.587). In comparing the levels of TLR4 between groups, the medians were 1.05 ng/mL ± 0.13 versus 1.46 ng/mL ± 0.27, respectively (P