Role of Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a global prevalence of 25% and is one of the main causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, the stress response protein mesencephalon-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) has been shown to regulate hepatic and systemic metabolic homeostasis. Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between mesencephalon-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor levels with other anthropometric indicators, and its function in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients with ages ranging between 40 to 73 years were included in this study and their serum samples were collected and kept at -2 °C. The liver function test, lipid profile, and albumin were determined using the automated biochemistry analyzer, while the mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor biomarker was determined by the ELIZA technique. Results: Our study showed that MANF levels decrease with age, and decreased MANF levels are associated with inflammatory phenotypes. The mean levels of ALT, ALP, AST, TSB, and the ALT/AST ratio in the non-alcoholic fatty liver patients were significantly higher than that for the non-fatty liver patients. As well, the mean level of MANF in the non-fatty liver patients was 305.25 ± 110.49 mg/dl which was significantly higher in the non-alcoholic fatty liver group (157.52). (p ≤ 0.001) Conclusion: A novel finding of our study is that the reduction of serum MANF levels is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disorders and could be used as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of hepatic disorders.