A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Circulating neurofilament is linked with morbid obesity, renal function, and brain density
Authors: Rebelos Eleni, Rissanen Eero, Bucci Marco, Jääskeläinen Olli, Honka Miikka-Juhani, Nummenmaa Lauri, Moriconi Diego, Laurila Sanna, Salminen Paulina, Herukka Sanna-Kaisa, Singhal Tarun, Nuutila Pirjo
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Scientific Reports
Journal name in source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Journal acronym: SCI REP-UK
Article number: 7841
Volume: 12
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 2045-2322
eISSN: 2045-2322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11557-2
Web address : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11557-2
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/175467810
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker reflecting neuroaxonal damage and associates with brain atrophy, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a marker of astrocytic activation, associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. Since obesity is associated with increased risk for several neurodegenerative disorders, we hypothesized that circulating NfL and GFAP levels could reflect neuronal damage in obese patients. 28 morbidly obese and 18 lean subjects were studied with voxel based morphometry (VBM) MRI to assess gray and white matter densities. Serum NfL and GFAP levels were determined with single-molecule array. Obese subjects were re-studied 6 months after bariatric surgery. Morbidly obese subjects had lower absolute concentrations of circulating NfL and GFAP compared to lean individuals. Following bariatric surgery-induced weight loss, both these levels increased. Both at baseline and after weight loss, circulating NfL and GFAP values correlated inversely with eGFR. Cross-sectionally, circulating NfL levels correlated inversely with gray matter (GM) density, and this association remained significant also when accounting for age and total eGFR. GFAP values did not correlate with GM density. Our data suggest that when determining circulating NfL and GFAP levels, eGFR should also be measured since renal function can affect these measurements. Despite the potential confounding effect of renal function on NfL measurement, NfL correlated inversely with gray matter density in this group of subjects with no identified neurological disorders, suggesting that circulating NfL level may be a feasible biomarker of cerebral function even in apparently neurologically healthy subjects.
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