Key result
The presence of crown-like structures in subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with higher liver fibrosis scores compared to their absence (1.7 vs. 1.2, P=0.04) independent of BMI.
Cross-Sectional (n=33)
In children with NAFLD, subcutaneous adipose tissue inflammation and fibrosis are associated with greater liver fibrosis and increased type 2 diabetes risk, independent of BMI.
May help stratify fibrosis risk in pediatric NAFLD beyond BMI; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
OBJECTIVE: Obesity in childhood is associated with an inflammatory state in adipose tissue and liver, which elevates risk for diabetes and liver disease. No prior study has examined associations between pathologies occurring in adipose tissue and liver to identify elements of tissue damage associated with type 2 diabetes risk. This study sought to determine whether inflammation and fibrosis in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in obese/overweight children (BMI-z 2.3 ± 0.76) was related to the extent of observed liver disease or type 2 diabetes risk. METHODS: Biopsy samples of abdominal (SAT) and liver were simultaneously collected from 33 Italian children (mean BMI 28.1 ± 5.1 kg/m(2) and mean age 11.6 ± 2.2 years) with confirmed NAFLD. Histology and immunohistochemistry were conducted on biopsies to assess inflammation and fibrosis in adipose tissue and fibrosis and inflammation in liver. RESULTS: Presence vs. absence of crown-like structures (CLS) in SAT was significantly related to liver fibrosis scores (1.7 ± 0.7 vs. 1.2 ± 0.7, P = 0.04) independent of BMI. SAT fibrosis was significantly correlated with a lower disposition index (r = -0.48, P = 0.006). No other adipose measures were associated with liver disease parameters. CONCLUSION: Markers of subcutaneous white adipose tissue inflammation are associated with greater extent of liver fibrosis independent of obesity and SAT fibrosis may contribute to diabetes risk through reduced insulin secretion.
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Walker et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (n=33). Presence of crown-like structures (CLS) in subcutaneous adipose tissue vs. Absence of CLS was evaluated on Liver fibrosis score (p=0.04). The presence of crown-like structures in subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with higher liver fibrosis scores compared to their absence (1.7 vs. 1.2, P=0.04) independent of BMI.
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