Association of hepatic Meteorin-like and Krüppel-like factor 3 with weight loss after laporoscopic adjustable gastric banding

Introduction Incidence and prevalence of obesity and obesity related disorders, such as metabolic associated fatty liver disease, are increasing worldwide (1). Bariatric surgery, such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is effective in reducing body weight. Meteorin-like (METNRL) has been described as an important regulator of energy expenditure (2). Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3), a regulator of METRNL expression in eosinophils, regulates the development of adipose tissue (AT) in mice by inhibiting beiging of AT (3).

Methods Hepatic tissue (HT) and AT of 33 obese patients undergoing LAGB were collected before and six months after surgery (4). Expression of METNRL and KLF3 was measured and correlation with clinical data was investigated. METNRL and KLF3 expression was determined in HEPG2s stimulated with cytokines.

Results Hepatic METNRL was significantly reduced after LAGB. Although the expression of METNRL and KLF3 correlated positively in HT and AT before and after LAGB, there was no statistically significant downregulation of KLF3 in HT. There was no difference in METNRL or KLF3 expression in AT before and after weight loss. Interestingly, patients with a weight loss response over 20 kg had lower expression of hepatic METNRL and KLF3 before and after LAGB, when compared to patients with less than 20 kg weight loss. A trend towards higher levels of hepatic METNRL and KLF3 expression with higher NAS scores was observed. Additionally, stimulation of HepG2s, immortalized human hepatocellular cancer cells, with IL-1β and Tnf-α induced METNRL and KLF3 expression.

Conclusion METRNL and KLF3 could act as possible biomarkers upfront to bariatric surgery. These proteins could be involved in the development of MAFLD or other obesity related disorders.

• 1 Diehl AM. et al. Nature metabolism. 2019; 1 (11) 1027-9.
• 2 Baht GS. et al. Nature metabolism. 2020; 2 (03) 278-89
• 3 Knights AJ. et al. JBC. 2020; 295 (18) 6080-91.
• 4 Moschen AR. et al. Journal of hepatology. 2009; 51 (04) 765-77.

Publication History

Article published online:
01 September 2021