BACKGROUND AND AIM tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A few studies have confirmed high TNF-α plasma protein levels in patients with NASH compared to healthy volunteers. We herein aimed to revisit these findings using other molecular techniques. METHODS a cross-sectional evaluation of patients newly diagnosed with NASH. A quantitative assay for the measurement of TNF-α messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was performed for NASH patients and controls using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS in 39 patients with NASH (mean age 38.6 ± 9.4 years, range 28-60 years; 79% males), the mean TNF-α mRNA level was significantly higher than that found for controls (137.6 ± 102.3 ng/mL versus 83.5 ± 43.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.012). A TNF-α mRNA cut-off of 100 ng/mL predicted NASH most optimally (AUC 0.685 ± 0.066, P = 0.01; with 66.7% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity). Serum TNF-α and soluble TNF-α receptor II (sTNFRII) levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls using ELISA. CONCLUSION high TNF-α mRNA levels, determined by RT-PCR, characterize patients with NASH.

中文翻译：

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非酒精性脂肪性肝炎患者的TNF-α信使核糖核酸（mRNA）。

背景与目的肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α在非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）的发病机理中起着重要作用。一些研究证实，与健康志愿者相比，NASH患者的TNF-α血浆蛋白水平高。我们在本文中旨在使用其他分子技术重新审视这些发现。方法对新诊断为NASH的患者进行横断面评估。使用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）对NASH患者和对照进行了TNF-α信使核糖核酸（mRNA）测量的定量分析。结果39例NASH患者（平均年龄38.6±9.4岁，范围28-60岁；男性79％）的平均TNF-αmRNA水平显着高于对照组（137.6±102.3 ng / mL对83.5±分别为43.8 ng / mL； P = 0.012）。TNF-αmRNA截断值100 ng / mL最能预测NASH（AUC 0.685±0.066，P = 0.01；敏感性为66.7％，特异性为74.1％）。与使用ELISA的对照组相比，患者的血清TNF-α和可溶性TNF-α受体II（sTNFRII）水平显着更高。结论通过RT-PCR确定的高TNF-αmRNA水平是NASH患者的特征。