Impaired Antioxidant Status in Non-Organ Specific Autoantibody Positive Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is developed mainly by insulin resistance and oxidative stress, but the exact pathogenesis is unknown. Increased prevalence of non-organ specific autoantibodies (NOSA) in NAFLD may be the result of primary immune-mediated mechanism or secondary hepatocellular injury as a consequence of free radical reaction and cytokine production. The importance of NOSA positivity in NAFLD is uncertain. Our aim was to investigate the NOSA prevalence and the redox status as well as the cytokine level in NAFLD patients. Plasma free SH-group concentration, total antioxidant status were measured by colorimetric methods. Free radical–antioxidant balance was determined by a chemiluminometric assay. IL-6 concentration was measured by ELISA in various group of NAFLD patients. NOSA (antinuclear antibody) prevalence was found to be 55% in NAFLD patients. NOSA-positive patients showed a decrease of plasma free SH-group concentration, total antioxidant status and strengthening of free radical reaction. Elevated IL-6 concentrations were measured in both patient groups, but IL-6 concentration was higher in the ANA-negative group with better antioxidant status.