Serum Interferon Gamma-induced Protein 10 Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Case–control Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and inflammation contributing to disease progression. Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) is a proinflammatory chemokine implicated in hepatic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Objectives: To assess circulating IP-10 levels in patients with concomitant T2D and MASLD, examine their associations with metabolic and hepatic parameters, and evaluate their discriminatory performance. Methods: This case-control study included 120 adults (60 patients with T2D and MASLD, and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated using ultrasonography, transient elastography (FibroScan®), hepatic steatosis index, and FIB-4 score. Serum IP-10 levels were measured using ELISA and its discriminatory performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Serum IP-10 was significantly higher in patients with T2D and MASLD compared with controls. Serum IP-10 showed significant positive correlations with LDL-C, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, FIB-4 score, and liver stiffness measurements, while remaining unrelated to steatosis grade or BMI. ROC curve analysis demonstrated excellent discriminatory performance of IP-10 between patients with T2D and MASLD and metabolically healthy controls, with an AUC of 0.97 at a cut-off value >940 pg/mL, yielding 85.0% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity. Conclusion: Serum IP-10 is significantly elevated in patients with MASLD and T2D and correlates with key markers of metabolic dysfunction and hepatic fibrosis. IP-10 demonstrates excellent discriminatory ability between patients with combined T2D and MASLD and metabolically healthy controls, supporting its potential relevance as a non-invasive biomarker in this metabolic phenotype.
Institution: Al-Azhar University
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222613697