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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2014; 20(45): 17107-17114
Published online Dec 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.17107
Published online Dec 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.17107
Increased circulating zonulin in children with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Stefano Bascetta, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Enea Bonci, Lidia Marandola, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Claudio Chiesa, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Pacifico L, Bonci E and Chiesa C designed the study, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Romaggioli S and Bascetta S collected the data; Marandola L performed the measurements and analyses; all the Authors participated in the critical review and in the final approval of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Claudio Chiesa, MD, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy. claudio.chiesa@ift.cnr.it
Telephone: +39-6-49979215 Fax: +39-6-49979216
Received: May 23, 2014
Revised: June 22, 2014
Accepted: July 16, 2014
Published online: December 7, 2014
Processing time: 200 Days and 19.8 Hours
Revised: June 22, 2014
Accepted: July 16, 2014
Published online: December 7, 2014
Processing time: 200 Days and 19.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Alteration in gut microbiota followed by impairment of intestinal wall integrity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Zonulin is a mediator known to regulate intestinal permeability by modulating intracellular tight junctions. We showed that zonulin concentrations are increased in obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD and correlate with the severity of steatosis, but not with the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), lobular inflammation or fibrosis score. These findings may well fit with the recent theory suggesting that simple steatosis and NASH are different and not necessarily inter-related diseases.