Stellate cell expression of SPARC-related modular calcium-binding protein 2 is associated with human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease severity.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Histological assessment of liver biopsies is the gold standard for diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), despite its well-established limitations. Therefore, non-invasive biomarkers that can offer an integrated view of the liver are needed to improve diagnosis and reduce sampling bias. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are central in the development of hepatic fibrosis, a hallmark of NASH. Secreted HSC-specific proteins may, therefore, reflect disease state in the NASH liver and serve as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods

We performed RNA-sequencing on liver biopsies from a histologically characterised cohort of obese patients (n = 30, BMI >35 kg/m²) to identify

SUBMITTER: Larsen FT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9850195 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature