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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2014; 20(40): 14706-14716
Published online Oct 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14706
ADV36 adipogenic adenovirus in human liver disease
Francesca M Trovato, Daniela Catalano, Adriana Garozzo, G Fabio Martines, Clara Pirri, Guglielmo M Trovato
Francesca M Trovato, Daniela Catalano, G Fabio Martines, Clara Pirri, Guglielmo M Trovato, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, Internal Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Adriana Garozzo, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work, based on preceding studies and articles; Trovato FM designed and drafted the review; Garozzo A revised the virology aspects; Trovato GM finally edited the paper.
Correspondence to: Guglielmo M Trovato, MD, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, Internal Medicine, University of Catania, Policlinico, Ed. 4, 4th floor, Via Santa Sofia, 95100 Catania, Italy. guglielmotrovato@unict.it
Telephone: +39-95-3781533 Fax: +39-95-3781549
Received: October 25, 2013
Revised: April 3, 2014
Accepted: June 26, 2014
Published online: October 28, 2014
Abstract

Obesity and liver steatosis are usually described as related diseases. Obesity is regarded as exclusive consequence of an imbalance between food intake and physical exercise, modulated by endocrine and genetic factors. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a condition whose natural history is related to, but not completely explained by over-nutrition, obesity and insulin resistance. There is evidence that environmental infections, and notably adipogenic adenoviruses (ADV) infections in humans, are associated not only with obesity, which is sufficiently established, but also with allied conditions, such as fatty liver. In order to elucidate the role, if any, of previous ADV36 infection in humans, we investigated association of ADV36-ADV37 seropositivity with obesity and fatty liver in humans. Moreover, the possibility that lifestyle-nutritional intervention in patients with NAFLD and different ADV36 seropositive status, achieves different clinical outcomes on ultrasound bright liver imaging, insulin resistance and obesity was challenged. ADV36 seropositive patients have a more consistent decrease in insulin resistance, fatty liver severity and body weight in comparison with ADV36 seronegative patients, indicating a greater responsiveness to nutritional intervention. These effects were not dependent on a greater pre-interventional body weight and older age. These results imply that no obvious disadvantage - and, seemingly, that some benefit - is linked to ADV36 seropositivity, at least in NAFLD. ADV36 previous infection can boost weight loss and recovery of insulin sensitivity under interventional treatment.

Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Human adenovirus 36, Obesity, Insulin resistance, Mediterranean diet, Ultrasound

Core tip: There is evidence that environmental infections, and notably adipogenic adenoviruses ADV36 /ADV37 infections in humans, are associated with obesity, being causative contributing factors of obesity in humans and animals. Lifestyle-nutritional intervention, in patients with different ADV36 seropositive status, achieves different clinical outcomes, i.e., a greater effect, on bright liver, insulin resistance and obesity is observed in comparison with ADV36 seronegative patients. These effects are not dependent on a greater pre-interventional body weight and older age. Adipogenic adenovirus infections in humans are associated with obesity, but also with allied conditions, such as fatty liver, and can have different effects on the liver in humans and animals.