New Insights of OLFM2 and OLFM4 in Gut-Liver Axis and Their Potential Involvement in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Olfactomedins (OLFMs) are a family of glycoproteins that play a relevant role in embryonic development and in some pathological processes. Although OLFM2 is involved in the regulation of the energy metabolism and OLFM4 is an important player in inflammation, innate immunity and cancer, the role of OLFMs in NAFLD-related intestinal dysbiosis remains unknown. In this study, we analysed the hepatic mRNA expression of and the jejunal expression of in a well-established cohort of women with morbid obesity (MO), classified according to their hepatic histology into normal liver ( = 27), simple steatosis ( = 26) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, = 16). Our results showed that hepatic mRNA was higher in NASH, in advanced degrees of steatosis and in the presence of lobular inflammation. Additionally, we obtained positive correlations between hepatic and glucose, cholesterol, trimethylamine N-oxide and deoxycholic acid levels and hepatic fatty acid synthase, and negative associations with weight and jejunal Toll-like receptors () and expression. Regarding jejunal , we observed positive correlations with circulating interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, IL-17 and jejunal . In conclusion, OLFM2 in the liver seems to play a relevant role in NAFLD progression, while OLFM4 in the jejunum could be involved in gut dysbiosis-related inflammatory events.