Performance of serum CD163 as a marker of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD
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Published on: July 21, 2023
Halla M Ragab1, Nabila Abd El Maksoud1, Mona A Amin2
1Department of Biochemistry, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Insights
Serum soluble CD163 (sCD163) is elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, showing diagnostic potential. However, sCD163 does not predict fibrosis severity in NAFLD.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- CD163 is a scavenger receptor on macrophages, upregulated during activation.
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD) is a growing liver disease with limited diagnostic markers.
- Evaluating CD163 as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in NAFLD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of CD163 in patients with NAFLD.
- To investigate the correlation between serum CD163 levels and NAFLD severity.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 41 NAFLD patients and 14 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Clinical assessment, liver function tests, and fibrosis scores (Fib-4, NAFLD fibrosis score) were performed.
- Serum CD163 levels were quantified using ELISA.
Main Results:
- NAFLD patients exhibited significantly higher BMI, NAFLD fibrosis score, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
- Serum soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels were markedly higher in NAFLD patients (9.97 ng/ml) compared to controls (1.87 ng/ml) (P < 0.001).
- sCD163 showed high sensitivity (85.4%) and specificity (92.9%) in distinguishing NAFLD patients, particularly in obese/diabetic subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Serum CD163 serves as a valuable diagnostic marker for identifying individuals with NAFLD.
- CD163 levels did not correlate with the NAFLD fibrosis score, indicating it cannot predict disease severity.
Background And Aims:
CD163, a surface hemoglobin-haptoglobin scavenger receptor, is expressed on macrophages and monocytes and up-regulated during macrophage activation. This study aimed to evaluate CD163 in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in such patients.
Methods:
Serum samples were collected from 41 NAFLD patients and 14 healthy controls. All cases were subjected to clinical assessment, abdominal ultrasound examination, laboratory assessment including liver function and enzymes, kidney function, and lipid profile. Fib-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score were calculated for all patients. Also, serum levels of CD163 were detected by ELISA technique.
Results:
The present study showed that BMI, NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly elevated in the NAFLD cases compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). The serum level of sCD163 was considerably higher in NAFLD cases (9.97 ± 9.97 ng/ml) vs. healthy controls (1.87 ± 0.83 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). Circulating level of sCD163 was significantly higher in the obese-diabetic subjects and diabetic non-obese patients as compared with the lean healthy subjects (11.15 ± 7.69 ng/ml) and 11.46 ± 13.83 ng/ml vs. 1.87 ± 0.83 ng/ml, P < 0.05; respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of this marker was 85.4%, and 92.9 for distinguishing patients with NAFLD in obese and/or diabetic subjects from healthy controls.
Conclusion:
serum level of CD163 can be used as a diagnostic marker for individuals with NAFLD. However, it didn't correlate with NAFLD fibrosis score of those patients and thus couldn't predict the severity of disease.
