Published online Dec 27, 2023. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i12.1315
Peer-review started: September 20, 2023
First decision: October 25, 2023
Revised: November 3, 2023
Accepted: November 21, 2023
Article in press: November 21, 2023
Published online: December 27, 2023
Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have increased serum omentin-1. Omentin-1 is an anti-inflammatory adipokine, and higher levels may be a direct effect of HCV infection. Successful elimination of HCV by direct acting antivirals almost normalized circulating levels of various molecules with a role in inflammation.
To evaluate the effect of HCV infection on serum omentin-1, serum omentin-1 levels of HCV patients were measured before therapy and at 12 wk after therapy end. Associations of serum omentin-1 with parameters of inflammation and liver function were explored at both time points. Serum omentin-1 levels of patients with and without liver cirrhosis, which was defined by ultrasound or the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, were compared.
Serum omentin-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 84 chronic HCV patients before therapy and at 12 wk after therapy end where sustained virological response 12 (SVR12) was achieved in all patients. Serum omentin-1 of 14 non-infected controls was measured in parallel.
In patients with chronic HCV, serum omentin-1 levels were not related to viral load or viral genotype. HCV patients with liver steatosis and HCV patients with diabetes had serum omentin-1 levels comparable to patients not suffering from these conditions. Serum omentin-1 levels at SVR12 were similar in comparison to pretreatment levels. In addition, serum levels did not differ between HCV-infected patients and non-infected controls. Serum omentin-1 levels did not correlate with leukocyte count or C-reactive protein. Positive correlations of serum omentin-1 with bilirubin and the model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD) were detected before therapy and at SVR12 in the whole cohort. Bilirubin and the MELD score also positively correlated with serum omentin-1 levels in the subgroup of patients with ultrasound diagnosed liver cirrhosis before therapy. At SVR12, serum omentin-1 levels of patients with liver cirrhosis negatively correlated with albumin. Before therapy start, patients with high FIB-4 scores had increased serum omentin-1 in comparison to patients with a low score. Serum omentin-1 levels of patients with liver cirrhosis defined by ultrasound were increased at baseline and at SVR12.
Present study showed that liver cirrhosis, but not HCV infection per se, is related to elevated serum omentin-1 levels.
Core Tip: Omentin-1 is an adipokine well described for its anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing functions. Aim of this study was to identify the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis on serum omentin-1 levels. This study showed that circulating omentin-1 levels of HCV infected patients and non-infected healthy controls were similar. Accordingly, serum omentin-1 levels did not change upon effective elimination of the virus by direct acting antiviral therapy. Serum omentin-1 was not associated with diabetes or C-reactive protein in the HCV cohort. Patients with liver cirrhosis had increased serum omentin-1 levels before treatment and at sustained virological response 12 in comparison to HCV patients without liver cirrhosis. This analysis shows that increased serum omentin-1 levels of chronic HCV patients with liver cirrhosis persist after viral elimination. Serum omentin-1 has no role in the favourable metabolic outcomes of HCV eradication.