Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Proteomic variation underlies the heterogeneous risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease for subsequent chronic diseases
Authors' conclusion
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease patients with the same steatosis severity but different proteomic responses may have different risks for future outcomes. Several key proteins may contribute to the progression of MASLD-related diseases.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants; steatosis defined by fatty liver index; MASLD population
- Participants
- 42,508 participants
- Exposure
- Quantiles of MASLD-related proteomic signature
- Outcome
- Incidence of 8 chronic diseases: liver fibrosis, CVD, CKD, chronic respiratory disease, dementia, depression, anxiety and cancers
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, proteomic signature from 2911 plasma proteins, Cox models, mediation analyses
- UK Biobank
- Proteomic signature from 2911 plasma proteins
- Cox models
- Mediation analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of proteomic signature with chronic diseases in MASLD
Signature significantly associated with liver fibrosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic respiratory disease and depression; aHRs ranging
1.30 to 4.94
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mediating proteins
- ADM, ASGR1 and FABP4 common mediators of MASLD and multiple diseases
- Liver fibrosis mediators specific, CDHR2 the key protein
Original publication
Proteomic variation underlies the heterogeneous risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease for subsequent chronic diseases. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 16 May 2025. doi:10.
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