Myostatin as a fibroblast‐activating factor impacts on postoperative outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Hepatology research 2021-07, Vol.51 (7), p.803-812
• Main Authors: Yoshio, Sachiyo, Shimagaki, Tomonari, Hashida, Ryuki, Kawaguchi, Takumi, Tsutsui, Yuriko, Sakamoto, Yuzuru, Yoshida, Yuichi, Kawai, Hironari, Yoshikawa, Shiori, Yamazoe, Taiji, Mori, Taizo, Osawa, Yosuke, Itoh, Shinji, Fukai, Moto, Yoshizumi, Tomoharu, Taketomi, Akinobu, Mori, Masaki, Kanto, Tatsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body mass index; Cirrhosis; Collagen; exercise; Fatty liver; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; liver fibrosis; Medical prognosis; Musculoskeletal system; myokine; Myostatin; NAFLD; primary fibroblast; Prognosis; Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle
• ISSN: 1386-6346; 1872-034X
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13667

Aim In patients with liver cirrhosis, high levels of serum myostatin are associated with poor prognosis. We aimed to clarify the influence of myostatin on the prognosis of patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease–hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD‐HCC) without cirrhosis and on the progression of liver fibrosis. Methods Serum myostatin levels were evaluated in 234 patients who underwent primary surgical resection for single HCC. To clarify the impact of myostatin on liver fibrosis, we established human primary liver fibroblasts from resected livers, and cultured them in the presence of myostatin. Results The median age was 67.4 years, the median L3 skeletal muscle mass index was 44.4 cm2/m2, and the median body mass index was 23.4 kg/m2. Eighty‐two (35.0%) patients had sarcopenia (L3 skeletal muscle mass index: men