Ye Xiaofeng, Kong Wen, Zafar Mohammad Ishraq, Zeng Junchao, Yang Rui, Chen Lu-Lu
Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Hubei provincial Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Wuhan 430022, China.
EXCLI J. 2020 Aug 20;19:1186-1195. doi: 10.17179/excli2020-2647. eCollection 2020.
Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) is a critical metabolic regulator in insulin resistance, and lipid distribution. We intended to ascertain the relationship between circulating VEGF-B and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general public. We recruited a total of 194 general participants for a routine physical health examination; of these, 84 participants were identified with NAFLD and 110 without NAFLD based on ultrasonographic findings. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, liver function, kidney function, plasma VEGF-B levels and indexes of metabolic syndrome (blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, fasting lipids) were evaluated. Plasma VEGF-B values were significantly higher in individuals with NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD (P = 0.022), and analysis of covariance confirmed this result. VEGF-B showed a positive correlation with γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) and HOMA-IR in univariate analysis (q = 0.242; P = 0.001; q =0.174; P = 0.019, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that γ-GT and ALT were independently correlated with VEGF-B even after adjusted for gender and age (q = 0.286; P = 0.01; q =0.237; P = 0.033, respectively). Moreover, plasma VEGF-B showed a powerful correlation with blood pressure and renal dysfunction. Plasma VEGF-B might be a new clinical variable related to NAFLD and could be a proper biomarker for the early detection of hypertension and renal dysfunction. However, further studies with large cohorts' size are warranted to validate our findings.
血管内皮生长因子B（VEGF - B）是胰岛素抵抗和脂质分布中的关键代谢调节因子。我们旨在确定普通人群中循环VEGF - B与非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）之间的关系。我们共招募了194名普通参与者进行常规身体健康检查；其中，根据超声检查结果，84名参与者被诊断为NAFLD，110名无NAFLD。评估了胰岛素抵抗的稳态模型评估（HOMA - IR）、体重指数（BMI）、糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）、肝功能、肾功能、血浆VEGF - B水平和代谢综合征指标（血压、空腹血糖、空腹血脂）。与无NAFLD的个体相比，NAFLD个体的血浆VEGF - B值显著更高（P = 0.022），协方差分析证实了这一结果。在单变量分析中，VEGF - B与γ - 谷氨酰转肽酶（γ - GT）和HOMA - IR呈正相关（分别为q = 0.242；P = 0.001；q = 0.174；P = 0.019）。多元线性回归分析表明，即使在调整性别和年龄后，γ - GT和丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）仍与VEGF - B独立相关（分别为q = 0.286；P = 0.01；q = 0.237；P = 0.033）。此外，血浆VEGF - B与血压和肾功能不全密切相关。血浆VEGF - B可能是与NAFLD相关的一个新的临床变量，并且可能是早期检测高血压和肾功能不全的合适生物标志物。然而，需要进一步进行大规模队列研究来验证我们的发现。
