The role of adiponectin and irisin in pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese patients

Background: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health problem affecting up to 25% of the adult population worldwide. However, some molecular mechanisms of the disease (in particular, the role of adipokines, hormones secreted by adipose tissue, as target molecules in NAFLD pathogenesis) remain underinvestigated. Aim: to evaluate specific levels of cytokines (i.e., adiponectin and irisin) in patients with NAFLD and obesity in Russia, as well as to identify their role in pathogenesis of progressive adipose tissue dysfunction. Patients and Methods: 94 subjects were enrolled in the study: 60 subjects with obesity and NAFLD, 19 non-NAFLD subjects with obesity, and 15 non-NAFLD healthy volunteers with normal body weight (i.e, a control group). The subjects’ height and body weight were measured by standardized procedures, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Serum levels of adiponectin and irisin were tested by enzyme immunoassay. Results: adiponectin and irisin levels were significantly (p <0.05) lower in subjects with NAFLD and obesity than in obese non-NAFLD subjects. A significantly weak correlation between BMI and irisin level, as well as a moderate correlation betweenBMI and adiponectin level were reported. Conclusion: subjects with NAFLD and obesity demonstrated a more pronounced decrease in adiponectin and irisin levels than non-NAFLD persons with obesity. This observation highlights an important role of these adipokines in NAFLD pathogenesis, and this may indicate their contribution to the disease progression from simple steatosis to more severe conditions such as NASH and fibrosis. Keywords: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, body mass index, obesity, adiponectin, irisin, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic liver steatosis, liver fibrosis. For citation: Dzgoeva F.Kh., Radaeva O.A., Arkhipkin A.A., Demidova V.V., Polivanova A.G., Mamieva E.K. The role of adiponectin and irisin in pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese patients. RMJ. 2025;2:2–7. DOI: 10.32364/2225-2282-2025-2-1