Activin A and follistatin in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ObjectiveThere are limited data on the role of activin A and its binding protein, follistatin, in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The main aim was the evaluation of serum activin A and follistatin levels in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD vs. controls.MethodsThis was a case–control study. Fifteen patients with nonalcoholic simple steatosis (SS), 16 with steatohepatitis (NASH), and 52 (24 lean and 28 obese) controls were recruited. Activin A and follistatin were measured using ELISA.ResultsActivin A levels showed a trend towards progressive increase (p = 0.010) from the controls (lean: 356 ± 25, 95% CI 305–408; obese 360 ± 20, 95% CI 320–401 pg/ml) to SS (407 ± 28, 95% CI 347–466 pg/ml) and NASH patients (514 ± 70 95% CI 364–664 pg/ml); this association became non-significant after adjusting for adiposity. Follistatin was not different between groups (lean controls: 1.11 ± 0.08, 95% CI 0.95–1.28; obese controls: 1.00 ± 0.07, 95% CI 0.86–1.14; SS: 0.86 ± 0.07, 95% CI 0.70–1.02; NASH: 1.14 ± 0.09, 95% CI 0.90–1.37 ng/ml; p = 0.13). Within the NAFLD group of patients, follistatin was associated with NASH independently from activin A, gender and age, a relationship however likely reflecting the effect of adiposity.ConclusionsActivin A is higher in patients with NASH than both lean and obese controls. Future clinical studies are needed to confirm and expand these findings, whereas mechanistic studies exploring underlying mechanisms are also warranted.