WISP3/CCN6 Adipocytokine Marker in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and its Association with...

CCN6/WISP3 is a member of the CCN adipokines family that can exert multiple effects on metabolic pathways. So far, the function of CCN6 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has not been known well. Hence, we aimed to examine CCN6 serum levels in patients with NAFLD compared to healthy individuals and its association with some risk factors for the first time.

This case-control study measured serum levels of CCN6, TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin, and fasting insulin using ELISA kits in 88 NAFLD patients and 88 controls. In addition, other biochemical variables, including AST, ALT, lipid profiles, and FBG, were determined using an Auto analyzer instrument.

A remarkable decrease in CCN6 levels was found in the NAFLD patients (1501.9543 ± 483.414 pg/ml) compared to the healthy group (1899.4856 ± 559.704 pg/ml, P < 0.001). In NAFLD patients, a negatively notable correlation was observed between CCN6 and the levels of insulin (r = -0.278, P = 0.011), HOMA-IR (r = -0.268, P = 0.014), as well as TNF-α (r = -0.343, P = 0.001). A remarkable association was found between CCN6 and the risk factor of NAFLD in the adjusted model for gender, age, and BMI with OR = 0.867 (95% CI, [0.806-0.931], P < 0.001).

Our findings showed a significant reduction in CCN6 levels in the NAFLD patients compared to the healthy group, as well as the developing risk of NAFLD enhanced with the decrease of CCN6 levels.