OR17-02 Changes in Hepatokines and Apolipoproteins Are Associated with Metabolic Response to Metreleptin in Partial Lipodystrophy

Introduction Metreleptin treatment may improve the metabolic aspects of partial lipodystrophy; however, the treatment response is heterogeneous. This study aimed to explore changes in circulating apolipoprotein concentrations, as well as ANGPLT3, ANGPLT4, and IGF-1 levels in patients treated with Metreleptin as part of a clinical study investigating the efficacy of Metreleptin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated with partial lipodystrophy (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01679197). Methods Serum samples of 18 patients with partial lipodystrophy who underwent a full metabolic evaluation and paired liver biopsies before and after Metreleptin were studied. Patients were tested at baseline, month (M) 3, M6, and M12. Glycemic response was defined as “more than 1% HbA1c reduction from baseline”. Lipid response was defined as “more than 30% decrease in triglycerides from baseline”. The hepatic response was defined as “a decrease of 2 points or more from baseline in NASH score, without an increase in fibrosis”. Patients with “any 2 of 3 above” at M12 were defined as metabolic responders. Results Metreleptin treatment resulted in significant reductions in triglycerides (346 mg/dL vs. 253 mg/dL; F: 8.474; p < 0.001), apo B (145.24 mg/dL vs. 111.09 mg/dL; F: 9.266: p < 0.001), apo CII (18.65 mg/dL vs. 15.95 mg/dL; F: 6.663: p = 0.001), apo CIII (62.95 mg/dL vs. 49.33 mg/dL; F: 5.640, p = 0.002), apo E (8.16 mg/dL vs. 6.52 mg/dL; F: 11.056, p < 0.001), and ANGPLT3 (14.36 ng/mL vs. 12.00 mg/dL; F: 4.348; p = 0.008) over time. IGF-1 levels significantly increased at M3 (134 ng/mL vs. 139 ng/mL; p = 0.001), however the difference was not significant over time. Metabolic responders had lower baseline leptin (12.4 ng/mL vs. 27.8 ng/mL; p = 0.024) and IGF-1 (95 ng/ml vs. 151 ng/mL; p = 0.008), and higher apo CII (39.06 mg/dL vs. 17.90 mg/dL; p = 0.011), apo CIII (173.57 mg/dL vs. 51.51 mg/dL; p = 0.015), apo E (18.41 mg/dL vs. 5.89 mg/dL; p = 0.002), and ANGPLT3 (17.33 ng/mL vs. 10.06 ng/mL; p = 0.04). Metabolic responders had a significant increase in IGF-1 (95 ng/mL vs. 134 ng/mL; p = 0.019), which was statistically distinguished from non-responders (p = 0.004). Responders also had a greater reduction in apo CII (20.51 mg/dL vs. -1.84 mg/dL; p = 0.001), apo CIII (32.59 mg/dL vs. -7.83 mg/dL; p = 0.007), apo E (8.17 mg/dL vs. 0.22 mg/dL; p = 0.001), and ANGPLT3 (6.08 ng/mL vs. -0.16 ng/mL; p = 0.005) early after treatment at M3. Conclusions Metreleptin treatment lowers levels of apolipoproteins associated with triglyceride metabolism as well as ANGPLT3 in patients with partial lipodystrophy. Metabolic response to Metreleptin appears to be correlated with early changes in these factors and an increase in IGF-1 levels.