1586-P: Association between PCSK7 Levels and NAFLD Severity in KADEM Study

Introduction: The increased obesity rates worldwide are associated with increased rates of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 7 (PCSK7) is an enzyme involved in lipid metabolism but its role in the development and progression of NAFLD remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between PCSK7 levels and NAFLD severity.

Methods: A total of 255 participants were recruited in KADEM study and screened for NAFLD using liver FibroScan machine. Participants were divided into two groups based on controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) scores: 208 dB/m with CAP scores above 294 dB/m, and 47 with CAP scores >294 dB/m. PCSK7 levels were measured using ELISA.

Results: PCSK7 levels were higher in people with a CAP score >294 dB/m, with levels of 0.9 ± 0.1 ng/mL compared to 0.5 ± 0.1 ng/mL in individuals with CAP scores lower than 294 dB/m (p=0.022). When the population was divided into tertiles based on CAP scores, PCSK7 levels were 0.30 ± 0.1 ng/mL for CAP scores ≤229, 0.7 ± 0.1 ng/mL for CAP scores between 230-271, and 0.8 ± 0.1 ng/mL for CAP scores ≥272 (p<0.001). PCSK9 levels were positively associated with CAP score (r=0.387, p<0.001), HbA1C (r=0.497, p<0.001), FBG (r=0.497, p<0.001), insulin (r=0.497, p<0.001), HOMA-IR (r=0.480, p<0.001), TG (r=0.366, p<0.001), LDL (r=0.133, p=0.049), and VLDL (r=0.366, p<0.001), while negatively associated with HDL (r=-0.271, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate a significant association between elevated PCSK7 levels and increased NAFLD severity implicating a potential role for PCSK7 in NAFLD pathogenesis.