Characteristics of hepatic fatty acid compositions in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to insulin resistance and lipid metabolism. Recent studies have suggested that the quality of fat accumulated in the liver is associated with the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we investigated the fatty acid composition in liver tissue and its association with the pathology in NAFLD patients. METHODS: One hundred and three patients diagnosed with NAFLD [simple steatosis (SS) 63, NASH 40] were examined and their hepatic fatty acids were measured using gas chromatography. In addition, relationships between the composition and composition ratios of various fatty acids and patient backgrounds, laboratory test values, histology of the liver, and expression of fat metabolism-related enzymes were investigated. RESULTS: The C161n7 content, the C161n7/C160 and C181n9/C180 ratios were increased and the C180/C160 ratio was decreased in the NASH group. The C180/C160 and C181n9/C180 ratios were associated with the steatosis score in liver tissue, and the C161n7/C160 ratio was associated with the lobular inflammation score. The expressions levels of genes SCD1, ELOVL6, SREBP1c, FAS and PPARγ were enhanced in the NASH group. In multivariate analysis, the C180/C160 ratio was the most important factor that was correlated with the steatosis score. In contrast, the C161n7/C160 ratio was correlated with lobular inflammation. CONCLUSION: The fatty acid composition in liver tissue and expression of genes related to fatty acid metabolism were different between the SS and NASH groups, suggesting that the acceleration of fatty acid metabolism is deeply involved in pathogenesis of NASH.