The role of insulin - like growth factor-1 on steatohepatitis

Purpose : Recent studies have revealed that growth hormone and STAT5 were related to hepatosteatosis in mice. Loss of signal transducer and activator of transcription factor-5 leads to hepatosteatosis and impaired liver regeneration. We aimed to investigate the role of IGF-1 in steatosis with normal (SNLFT) and disturbed liver function tests (SDLFT) in humans. Method : We included 272 NAFLD patients and 110 age, sex and body mass index (BMI)-matched healty controls. We measured routine blood biochemistry and complete blood count, IGF-1, insulin, c-peptide, ferritin, hsCRP, ESR and HOMA-IR. We subdivided NAFLD patients into SNLFT and SDLFT subgroups. Results : Age, sex and BMI were similar between NAFLD and controls. IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in NAFLD patients (120,6 +/- 48,2) than controls (148,9 +/- 53,8), (p<0,0001). IGF-1 levels were also lower in SDLFT subgroup (93,4 +/- 27,8) than SNLFT subgroup (123,1 +/- 49,0), (p:0,032). Waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, uric acid, hsCRP, AST, ALT, GGT, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin, insulin, c-peptid and HOMA-IR measurements were significantly higher in NAFLD patients than controls (for all values: p<0,0001). Cholesterol (p:0,026), triglycerides (p<0,0001), ESR (p:0,006) were significantly higher in NAFLD patients than controls. HDL-chelesterol levels were significantly lower (p:0,002) in NAFLD patients than controls. Conclusion : This study supported previous findings of experimental studies in that, IGF-1 levels were lower in SNLFT and SDLFT. Growth hormone-IGF-1 system may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.