Harmful effect of adipose tissue on liver lesions in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Background & Aims Adipose tissue is an important source of cytokines. Excess weight is an independent risk factor for steatosis, acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH), and cirrhosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). In this study, we investigated the role of adipose tissue in human ALD. Patients and methods Fifty patients with ALD underwent liver and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies and supplied blood samples for the investigation of cytokine gene expression and secretion, as well as liver histology. Results The levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in adipose tissue were higher in patients with AAH. IL-10 level in adipose tissue was also correlated with fibrosis score. TNF-α gene expression in adipose tissue was correlated with Maddrey score, blood C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and liver IL-6 concentration. IL-6 production levels in the liver were higher in patients with AAH and correlated with AAH score, liver histological lesions, liver TNF-α concentration, Maddrey score, and blood CRP concentration. Plasma concentrations of soluble forms of TNF-receptor were correlated with inflammatory lesions in the liver, Maddrey score and fibrosis score. Conclusion In patients with ALD, inflammation occurs not only in the liver, but also in the adipose tissue. Adipose tissue inflammation is correlated with the severity of pathological features in the liver. Our findings may account for the harmful interactions between body mass index, AAH, fibrosis, and cirrhosis in alcoholic patients.