Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
J Clin Lab Anal. 2022 Nov;36(11):e24745. doi: 10.1002/jcla.24745. Epub 2022 Oct 21.
Growth differentiation factor 1 (GDF1) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily and a protective mediator against the development of post-infarction cardiac remodeling by negatively regulating MEK-ERK1/2 and Smad signaling pathways in the heart. The TGF-β/SMAD pathway has been shown to play a key role in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In addition, fatty liver disease has been associated with reduced MEK/ERK1/2 signaling. However, no previous study has investigated the association between GDF1 and liver fibrosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma GDF1 and liver fibrosis in patients with stable angina.
We included 327 consecutive patients with stable angina. ELISA was used to measure circulating levels of GDF1, and the fibrosis-4 index was used to assess liver fibrosis.
The advanced liver fibrosis group had lower median plasma GDF1 levels than those with minimal liver fibrosis. There was a significant negative association between GDF1 plasma level and fibrosis-4 index (r = -0.135, p = 0.019). A lower concentration of GDF1 was significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of liver fibrosis when concentration was analyzed as a continuous variable and by tertile. In addition, fibrosis-4 index, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index, and AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio were significantly associated with GDF1 concentration.
Our results indicated an association between low plasma GDF1 and liver fibrosis in the enrolled patients. Further investigations into the role of plasma GDF1 in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis are warranted.
生长分化因子 1（GDF1）是转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）超家族的成员，通过负向调节心脏中的 MEK-ERK1/2 和 Smad 信号通路，是对抗心肌梗死后心脏重构的保护介质。TGF-β/SMAD 途径在肝纤维化的发展中起着关键作用。此外，脂肪肝疾病与 MEK/ERK1/2 信号降低有关。然而，以前的研究并未探讨 GDF1 与肝纤维化之间的关系。因此，本研究旨在探讨稳定型心绞痛患者血浆 GDF1 与肝纤维化之间的关系。
我们纳入了 327 例连续稳定型心绞痛患者。采用 ELISA 法测定循环 GDF1 水平，采用纤维化 4 指数评估肝纤维化。
晚期肝纤维化组的血浆 GDF1 中位数水平低于最小肝纤维化组。GDF1 血浆水平与纤维化 4 指数呈显著负相关（r=-0.135，p=0.019）。当按连续变量和三分位数分析浓度时，较低浓度的 GDF1 与肝纤维化风险增加显著相关。此外，纤维化 4 指数、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）/血小板比值指数和 AST/丙氨酸氨基转移酶比值与 GDF1 浓度显著相关。
我们的研究结果表明，纳入患者的低血浆 GDF1 与肝纤维化之间存在关联。需要进一步研究血浆 GDF1 在肝纤维化发病机制中的作用。
