Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase and phospholipid transfer protein activity independently associate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent condition which contributes to atherogenic apolipoprotein B dyslipoproteinemias. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) are both synthesized by the liver and are important in lipid metabolism. Here, we interrogated the impact of NAFLD on plasma LCAT and PLTP activities. MethodsPlasma LCAT activity (exogenous substrate assay) and PLTP activity (phospholipid vesicles-HDL assay) were determined in 348 subjects (279 men; 81 subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM); 123 with metabolic syndrome (MetS)). A Fatty Liver Index (FLI) 60 was used as a proxy of NAFLD. Insulin resistance was determined by homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). ResultsA total of 147 participants had an FLI 60 coinciding with T2DM and MetS (P ConclusionNAFLD, as inferred from an FLI60, confers higher plasma LCAT and to a lesser extent PLTP activity, even when taking account of T2DM, MetS, central obesity and insulin resistance