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. 2022 Aug 10;21(1):70.
doi: 10.1186/s12944-022-01676-0.

Serum interleukin-38 levels correlated with insulin resistance, liver injury and lipids in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Jun Cao  1 , Lin Hua  2 , Shipei Zhang  2 , Jinping Tang  2 , Fan Ke  3 , Zhouhuan Wu  4 , Guohui Xue  5
Affiliations

Serum interleukin-38 levels correlated with insulin resistance, liver injury and lipids in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Jun Cao et al. Lipids Health Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Insulin resistance, liver injury and dyslipidemia are reported in non-alcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Interleukin (IL)-38 may take part in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance. Nevertheless, the function of IL-38 in NAFLD is unknown. Herein, we determined whether serum IL-38 level might be utilised as a biochemical marker for diagnosing NAFLD.

Methods: NAFLD patients and healthy participants (n = 91 each) were enrolled. Circulating serum IL-38 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Other metabolic and inflammatory indices related to NAFLD were also assessed.

Results: Patients with NAFLD had higher serum IL-38 levels than healthy individuals. Significantly higher serum IL-38 levels were found in patients with severe and moderate NAFLD than in patients with mild NAFLD. IL-38 showed a significant correlation with parameters of insulin resistance, inflammation, and liver enzyme in NAFLD cases. Anthropometric, insulin resistance, inflammatory parameters, lipids and frequency of NAFLD showed significant differences among the serum IL-38 level tertiles. Participants in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of serum IL-38 levels had a greater risk of NAFLD than those in the 1st tertile. Furthermore, IL-38 ROC curve showed a high area under ROC with 0.861.

Conclusions: It is possible for serum IL-38 to be a biomarker for NAFLD.

Keywords: Biomarker; IL-38; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that no conflict of interest existed.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The level of serum IL-38 in NAFLD patients. a Comparison of serum IL-38 level in NAFLD cases and healthy control. b Comparison of serum IL-38 level in NAFLD patients with different ultrasonographic degrees. c Comparison of serum IL-38 level in NAFLD patients with abnormal liver enzymes or not
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Correlation analyses between serum IL-38 levels with liver status, glucose metabolism and inflammation-related markers
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
ROC curve of serum IL-38 levels in diagnosing NAFLD
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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