Leptin gene Polymorphism and Leptin protein levels in Pediatric Autoimmune Hepatitis

ABSTRACT

Background

Leptin plays a role in regulating energy balance, immunity, and inflammation. Studies suggest higher leptin levels might be associated with various autoimmune diseases. Most of them were in adult. To our knowledge, our study is one of the few that describe serum leptin level and leptin gene polymorphism in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Objective

Our study aims to explore the association between serum leptin level and genetic variations in leptin gene with the likelihood of AIH in children.

Patients and methods

Thirty-one children with AIH and 29 healthy children serving as a control group were included. Serum leptin levels were measured by ELISA assays. Leptin rs2167270 genotyping was done using the real time-PCR. The relationship of serum leptin level and leptin gene polymorphism with patients’ data was studied. Patients follow up to assess treatment response.

Results

Children with AIH had significantly higher levels of leptin compared to healthy controls. GG genotype was significantly more prevalent in the AIH group compared to controls.

Conclusion

High serum leptin levels and leptin gene polymorphism may play a role in AIH development. It is worthy to recognize if leptin can serve as diagnostic and/or therapeutic target in AIH in children.

KEYWORDS:

• Leptin
• Leptin gene polymorphism
• autoimmune hepatitis
• children

List of abbreviations

AIH	=	Autoimmune hepatitis
BD	=	Bechet disease
HCV	=	Hepatitis C virus
WD	=	Wilson’s disease
IAIHG	=	International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group
ANA	=	Antinuclear antibody
LKM-1 A	=	Liver-kidney microsome 1 antibody
SMA	=	Smooth muscle antibody
antiLC1	=	Anti-liver cytosol type 1 antibody
ALT	=	Alanine aminotransferase
AST	=	Aspartate aminotransferase
ALP	=	Alkaline phosphatase
GGT	=	Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase
AMA	=	Antimitochondrial antibody
US	=	Ultrasonography
H&E	=	Hematoxylin and eosin
PAS	=	Periodic Acid Schiff
WBCs	=	White blood cell count
IFN-γ	=	Interferon gamma
IgG	=	Immunoglobulin G
MS	=	Multiple sclerosis
RA	=	Rheumatoid arthritis
SLE	=	Systemic lupus erythematosus
T1D	=	Type 1 diabetes mellitus
EBV	=	Epstein Barr virus
CMV	=	Cytomegalovirus

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the all children and their families who participated in this study, the working staff of the departments who involved in this study in National Liver Institute and Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, for their sincere participation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt, without any particular role in the study design, recruitment of individuals, data analysis or the writing of the manuscript.Due to the nature of the research, due to [ethical/legal/commercial] supporting data is not available.This study was approved by the Ethical Scientific Committee of National Liver Institute, Menoufia University and an informed consent was obtained from one of the parents before enrollment of their children in the study including not to share their data outside the authors.I confirm that all the research meets ethical guidelines and adheres to the legal requirements of Ethical Scientific Committee of National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.