This study looked at blood proteins linked to liver scarring in people with HIV and fatty liver disease, but it didn’t test tesamorelin or give any direct tips for using it. It mainly identified a set of proteins that are higher when liver fibrosis is present, which is useful for scientists but not immediately actionable for DIY health hacks.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by a high prevalence of hepatic fibrosis as a strong clinical predictor of all-cause and liver-specific mortality risk. We leveraged data from an earlier clinical trial to define the circulating proteomic signature of hepatic fibrosis in HIV-associated NAFLD. A total of 183 plasma proteins within 2 high-multiplex panels were quantified at baseline and at 12 months (Olink Cardiovascular III; Immuno-Oncology). Twenty proteins were up-regulated at baseline among participants with fibrosis stages 2-3 versus 0-1. Proteins most differentially expressed included matrix metalloproteinase 2 (P < .001), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (P = .001), and collagen α1(I) chain (P = .001). Proteins were enriched within pathways including response to tumor necrosis factor and aminopeptidase activity. Key proteins correlated directly with visceral adiposity and glucose intolerance and inversely with CD4+ T-cell count. Within the placebo-treated arm, 11 proteins differentially increased among individuals with hepatic fibrosis progression over a 12-month period (P < .05). Among individuals with HIV-associated NAFLD, hepatic fibrosis was associated with a distinct proteomic signature involving up-regulation of tissue repair and immune response pathways. These findings enhance our understanding of potential mechanisms and biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis in HIV.