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Increased intermediate monocyte fraction in peripheral blood is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

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Summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents the most common hepatic disease worldwide and is closely linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate NAFLD and its influence on different monocyte subpopulations to determine the presence of significant associations. A total of 3 monocyte subpopulations were investigated, i.e. classical (CD14++CD16−), intermediate (CD14++CD16+) and non-classical (CD14+CD16++). Of the participants 261 were included in this study (n = 53 with NAFLD, n = 208 controls). Ultrasonography was used to diagnose NAFLD and exclude other morphologic causes of liver diseases and other tests (including medical history inquiries and detection of hepatitis virus) were performed to exclude other causes of parenchymal liver disease. Classical inflammatory and metabolic-related NAFLD biomarkers were also determined. In contrast to the healthy control group, the intermediate monocyte fraction was increased in NAFLD patients (p = 0.032), while the classical monocyte fraction was decreased (p = 0.025). Intermediate monocyte fraction, body mass index (BMI) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were independent risk factors for NAFLD. Classical, non-classical and intermediate monocytes fraction were strongly associated with age, triglyceride, and waist circumference. This study suggests that the intermediate monocyte fraction in peripheral blood is likely related to the aggravation of NAFLD.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine transaminase

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

BMI:

Body mass index

CM:

Classical monocyte

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

FPG:

Fasting plasma glucose

GGT:

Gamma-glutamyl transferase

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance

IM:

Intermediate monocytes

IR:

Insulin resistance

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

NAFLD:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

NCM:

Non-classical monocytes.

NK:

Natural killer cells

PBMC:

Peripheral blood monocytes

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81400828) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (grant no. ZR2014HQ057).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, 324 jing 5rd, 250021, Shandong, Jinan, China

    Jianmei Zhang, Wenbin Chen, Li Fang, Qiu Li, Xu Zhang, Haiqing Zhang, Qingbo Guan, Rang Zhao, Chongbo Yang & Fei Jing

  2. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China

    Jianmei Zhang, Wenbin Chen, Li Fang, Qiu Li, Xu Zhang, Haiqing Zhang, Qingbo Guan, Rang Zhao, Chongbo Yang & Fei Jing

  3. Department of Geriatrics, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Weihai, China

    Jianmei Zhang

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  1. Jianmei Zhang
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  2. Wenbin Chen
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  3. Li Fang
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Correspondence to Fei Jing.

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Conflict of interest

J. Zhang, W. Chen, L. Fang, Q. Li, X. Zhang, H. Zhang, Q. Guan, R. Zhao, C. Yang, and F. Jing declare that they have no competing interests.

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Zhang, J., Chen, W., Fang, L. et al. Increased intermediate monocyte fraction in peripheral blood is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Wien Klin Wochenschr 130, 390–397 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-018-1348-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-018-1348-6

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