Circulating TREM2 as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for NASH in patients with elevated liver stiffness.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Reliable noninvasive biomarkers are an unmet clinical need for the diagnosis of NASH. This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the circulating triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (plasma TREM2) as a biomarker for NASH in patients with NAFLD and elevated liver stiffness. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We collected cross-sectional, clinical data including liver biopsies from a derivation ( n = 48) and a validation cohort ( n = 170) of patients with elevated liver stiffness measurement (LSM ≥ 8.0 kPa). Patients with NAFLD activity scores (NAS) ≥4 were defined as having NASH. Plasma TREM2 levels were significantly elevated in patients with NASH of the derivation cohort, with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.99). In the validation cohort, plasma TREM2 level increased approximately two-fold in patients with NASH, and a strong diagnostic accuracy was confirmed (AUROC, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.89; p < 0.0001). Plasma TREM2 levels were associated with the individual histologic features of NAS: steatosis, lobular inflammation, and ballooning ( p < 0.0001), but only weakly with fibrosis stages. Dual cutoffs for rule-in and rule-out were explored: a plasma TREM2 level of ≤38 ng/ml was found to be an optimal NASH rule-out cutoff (sensitivity 90%; specificity 52%), whereas a plasma TREM2 level of ≥65 ng/ml was an optimal NASH rule-in cutoff (specificity 89%; sensitivity 54%). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TREM2 is a plausible individual biomarker that can rule-in or rule-out the presence of NASH with high accuracy and thus has the potential to reduce the need for liver biopsies and to identify patients who are eligible for clinical trials in NASH.

Effect of Calorie-Unrestricted Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet Versus High-Carbohydrate, Low-Fat Diet on Type 2 Diabetes and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear if a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet is a possible treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a calorie-unrestricted LCHF diet, with no intention of weight loss, on T2DM and NAFLD compared with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat (HCLF) diet. DESIGN: 6-month randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03068078). SETTING: Odense University Hospital in Denmark from November 2016 until June 2020. PARTICIPANTS: 165 participants with T2DM. INTERVENTION: Two calorie-unrestricted diets: LCHF diet with 50 to 60 energy percent (E%) fat, less than 20E% carbohydrates, and 25E% to 30E% proteins and HCLF diet with 50E% to 60E% carbohydrates, 20E% to 30E% fats, and 20E% to 25E% proteins. MEASUREMENTS: Glycemic control, serum lipid levels, metabolic markers, and liver biopsies to assess NAFLD. RESULTS: The mean age was 56 years (SD, 10), and 58% were women. Compared with the HCLF diet, participants on the LCHF diet had greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c (mean difference in change, -6.1 mmol/mol [95% CI, -9.2 to -3.0 mmol/mol] or -0.59% [CI, -0.87% to -0.30%]) and lost more weight (mean difference in change, -3.8 kg [CI, -6.2 to -1.4 kg]). Both groups had higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower triglycerides at 6 months. Changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were less favorable in the LCHF diet group than in the HCLF diet group (mean difference in change, 0.37 mmol/L [CI, 0.17 to 0.58 mmol/L] or 14.3 mg/dL [CI, 6.6 to 22.4 mg/dL]). No statistically significant between-group changes were detected in the assessment of NAFLD. Changes were not sustained at the 9-month follow-up. LIMITATION: Open-label trial, self-reported adherence, unintended weight loss, and lack of adjustment for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSION: Persons with T2DM on a 6-month, calorie-unrestricted, LCHF diet had greater clinically meaningful improvements in glycemic control and weight compared with those on an HCLF diet, but the changes were not sustained 3 months after intervention. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Binge drinking episode causes acute, specific alterations in systemic and hepatic inflammation-related markers.

BACKGROUND: Frequent binge drinking is a known contributor to alcohol-related harm, but its impact on systemic and hepatic inflammation is not fully understood. We hypothesize that changes in immune markers play a central role in adverse effects of acute alcohol intake, especially in patients with early liver disease. AIM: To investigate the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on inflammation-related markers in hepatic and systemic venous plasma in people with alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and healthy controls. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants (13 with ArLD, 15 with NAFLD and 10 healthy controls) received 2.5 mL of 40% ethanol per kg body weight via a nasogastric tube. Seventy-two inflammation-related markers were quantified in plasma from hepatic and systemic venous blood, at baseline, 60 and 180 min after intervention. RESULTS: Alcohol intervention altered the levels of 31 of 72 and 14 of 72 markers in the systemic and hepatic circulation. All changes observed in the hepatic circulation were also identified in the systemic circulation after 180 min. Only FGF21 and IL6 were increased after alcohol intervention, while the remaining 29 markers decreased. Differences in response to acute alcohol between the groups were observed for 8 markers, and FGF21 response was blunted in individuals with steatosis. CONCLUSION: Acute alcohol intoxication induced changes in multiple inflammation-related markers, implicated in alcohol metabolism and hepatocellular damage. Differences identified between marker response to binge drinking in ArLD, NAFLD and healthy controls may provide important clues to disease mechanisms and potential targets for treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT03018990.

[Controlled attenuation parameter is a novel technique in screening for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease afflicts 30% of the population and is tightly linked to the metabolic syndrome and development of cardiovascular disease and chronic liver disease. Regular ultrasound is currently used in liver steatosis diagnosing, but it is operator-dependent, fails to detect lower grades of steatosis, and is unable to graduate the degree of steatosis. Controlled attenuation parameter is a novel, ultrasound-based technique to accurately detect and grade steatosis. Further studies are needed to establish cut-offs, before it can be implemented in clinical practice.