Serum Autotaxin in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been emerging as popular chronic liver disease with no curative agent and represent serum biomarkers. Methods: 76 NAFLD patients and 76 health controls visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in 2016 were included in this study. Demographic information, medical history, clinical evaluations, blood routine, serum biochemical analysis and serum Autotaxin level were obtained. Findings: Serum Autotaxin level in NAFLD patients was significantly lower than that in controls (174.3±59.1 vs. 197.7±58.9 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Prevalence NAFLD significantly decreased (62.9%, 47.1%, 39.6%, Ptrend < 0.05), as Autotaxin level increased. ROC curve of Autotaxin was developed to predict the presence of NAFLD. Area under ROC was 0.606. Logistic analysis demonstrated an independent role of Autotaxin in predicting NAFLD. Interpretation: This case control study revealed a negative relationship between serum Autotaxin level and NAFLD, independent of age, sex, body mass index and other metabolic factors. As serum Autotaxin level increased, NAFLD prevalence decreased, indicating a potential biomarker as well as therapeutic role of Autotaxin in NAFLD. Funding Statement: This study was supported by funding from Science Foundation of Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province (No. 2017183691 to Yi Chen) and National Key Basic Research Development Program (No. 81700504 to Yi Chen). The funders did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decisions regarding data release or manuscript preparation. Declaration of Interests: None of the authors has any conflict of interest to claim. Ethics Approval Statement: Study protocol was approved by Hospital Ethics Committee and performed in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki. All subjects gave informed consent before enrollment.