Effects of lifestyle intervention on soluble CD163, a macrophage activation marker, in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE

Liver macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Soluble CD163 (sCD163), a macrophage-specific biomarker, reflects disease activity in the range of liver diseases. The impact of lifestyle intervention on sCD163 in adult NAFLD patients has not been investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We assessed 126 NAFLD patients participating in a lifestyle intervention study for sCD163 concentrations at baseline, after the three-month intervention period, and at long-term follow-up after 12 and 24 months.

RESULTS

The median sCD163 concentration at baseline was 2.59 mg/L (IQR = 1.78-3.63 mg/L). There was a significant decrease in sCD163 from baseline to three months follow-up (-0.64 mg/L, p < .001) with no difference between the four study groups (p = .6). At 12 and 24 months follow-up, the sCD163 concentrations had returned to baseline level (p = .3 and p = .1). Baseline sCD163 correlated with liver biomarkers and metabolic variables. There was a significantly greater decrease in sCD163 in patients who had a decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared with patients with unchanged or increased ALT (-0.76 mg/L vs. -0.41 mg/L, p = .02), and in patients with a decrease in HOMA-IR compared with individuals with no decrease (-0.86 mg/L vs. -0.55 mg/L, p = .03).

CONCLUSION

sCD163 is associated with markers of liver necro-inflammation and glucose homoeostasis in NAFLD. Participation in a lifestyle intervention programme resulted in a significant reduction in sCD163. Our data support the utility of sCD163 as a biomarker for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in NAFLD.