Elevated systemic monocyte chemoattractrant protein-1 levels in hepatic steatosis without significant hepatic inflammation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. It encompasses a clinico-pathologic spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The latter develops upon pro-inflammatory cell infiltration and is widely considered as the first relevant pathophysiological step in NAFLD-progression. The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant proteins (MCP-1) plays an important role in the progression of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and increased hepatic expression has been described in NASH. The aim of the present study was to inv…