biostudies-literatureVerna ECNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases582-90https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7979413biostudies-literatureUnknown42(5)<h4>Background</h4>Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2), a serum protein, inhibits inflammation and fibrosis, and recombinant PTX-2 is being tested as an anti-fibrotic agent.<h4>Aim</h4>To evaluate the association between serum PTX-2 levels and fibrosis stage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).<h4>Methods</h4>Serum pentraxin-2 levels were compared between four groups of well-characterised patients including NAFLD with no fibrosis, NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis (stage 1-2), NAFLD with advanced fibrosis (stage 3-4), and age-sex matched non-NAFLD controls.<h4>Results</h4>Sixty subjects were included in the study. The mean age was 58.9 years, 68% were male and 58% were Caucasian. In univariate analysis, serum PTX-2 levels significantly decreased from non-NAFLD controls to mild NAFLD with no fibrosis, to NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis and were lowest in patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis, in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.0001). In multivariable-adjusted analyses controlling for age, sex, albumin, and CRP, the results remained consistent and statistically significant. Serum PTX-2 level had an AUROC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71-0.97) for the diagnosis of NAFLD, and an AUROC of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.90) for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD. Serum PTX-2 levels also decreased with increasing liver stiffness as estimated by magnetic resonance elastography (r = -0.31, P = 0.02).<h4>Conclusions</h4>PTX-2 levels are significantly lower in patients with NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD controls, and decline further in patients with advanced fibrosis. PTX-2 may therefore be both a biomarker of disease and a potential target for anti-fibrotic therapy with the recombinant pentraxin-2.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeuticsNovel association between serum pentraxin-2 levels and advanced fibrosis in well-characterised patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.PMC7979413K23 DK090303K23-DK090303Bettencourt RVerna ECLoomba RValasek MANguyen PPatel JBrenner DAHernandez CKisselva TfalseNovel association between serum pentraxin-2 levels and advanced fibrosis in well-characterised patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.<h4>Background</h4>Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2), a serum protein, inhibits inflammation and fibrosis, and recombinant PTX-2 is being tested as an anti-fibrotic agent.<h4>Aim</h4>To evaluate the association between serum PTX-2 levels and fibrosis stage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).<h4>Methods</h4>Serum pentraxin-2 levels were compared between four groups of well-characterised patients including NAFLD with no fibrosis, NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis (stage 1-2), NAFLD with advanced fibrosis (stage 3-4), and age-sex matched non-NAFLD controls.<h4>Results</h4>Sixty subjects were included in the study. The mean age was 58.9 years, 68% were male and 58% were Caucasian. In univariate analysis, serum PTX-2 levels significantly decreased from non-NAFLD controls to mild NAFLD with no fibrosis, to NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis and were lowest in patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis, in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.0001). In multivariable-adjusted analyses controlling for age, sex, albumin, and CRP, the results remained consistent and statistically significant. Serum PTX-2 level had an AUROC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71-0.97) for the diagnosis of NAFLD, and an AUROC of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.90) for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD. Serum PTX-2 levels also decreased with increasing liver stiffness as estimated by magnetic resonance elastography (r = -0.31, P = 0.02).<h4>Conclusions</h4>PTX-2 levels are significantly lower in patients with NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD controls, and decline further in patients with advanced fibrosis. PTX-2 may therefore be both a biomarker of disease and a potential target for anti-fibrotic therapy with the recombinant pentraxin-2.2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Sep2025-04-25T19:31:31.854Z2025-04-06T07:58:21.22ZS-EPMC79794132611935310.1111/apt.13292