Study of IL-10 serum marker and its association with NAFLD in adult Egyptian patients

Abstract

NAFLD is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver leads to chronic liver injury in which at least 5 % of hepatocytes display lipid droplets that exceed 5–10 % of liver weight in patients who do not consume significant amounts of alcohol. It is a heterogeneous disease that may range from a relatively mild and subtle disease (hepatic steatosis) to a much more active and progressive disease, in which significant necro inflammatory fatty infiltration of hepatocytes are involved, designated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The first step of the pathophysiology of NASH is the lipid accumulation in the liver causing steatosis. This increases the sensitivity of the liver to injury and inflammation. The second step involves cytokines which causing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, in time leading to steatohepatitis which eventually might develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Obesity, type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia are coexisting conditions frequently associated with NAFLD. NASH progression is mediated by an inflammatory process in the liver with concomitant tissue damage and fibrosis. Interleukin 10 (IL-10, CSIF) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine mainly produced by macrophages and Th2 cells. IL-10 functions by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines made by macrophages and regulatory T cells. In obese patients, the progression of NAFLD to NASH has been recently proposed to associate with the occurrence of systemic inflammation. Obesity-related systemic inflammation is characterized by high circulating levels of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), while also showing low levels of anti-inflammatory factors as is the case of interleukin (IL) 10. The study is aimed to evaluate the relation between serum levels of IL-10 and NAFLD in Egyptian patients. This study is A randomized case control cross sectional study, was carried out at Eldemrdash University Hospital, Internal medicine departments, on patients above 18 years old with Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) and NAFLD, duration of study about 6 months.