Table 3.
Liver expression of miRNAs: clinical and biochemical characteristics of the whole population according to disease status
| Variable (mean±SD) | Non-MetSyn near-normal liver histology subjects | SS | NASH | p Value* | p Value† | p Value‡ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of subjects | 14 | 20 | 31 | |||
| Female/male, % | 58/42 | 50/50 | 60/40 | NS | NS | NS |
| Age, years | 43.5±11.3 | 54.4±8.3 | 51.7±10.8 | <0.01 | NS | <0.01 |
| Obesity and central obesity | ||||||
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.4±3.4 | 31.2±5.3 | 33.6±5.8 | <0.001 | NS | <0.00001 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 91±10.6 | 105.8±12.9 | 112.1±12.6 | <0.01 | NS | <0.0004 |
| Waist to hip ratio | 0.9±0.05 | 0.96±0.05 | 0.98±0.09 | <0.04 | NS | <0.05 |
| Body fat content (%) | 27.6±11.5 | 35.5±2.12 | 39.4±5.2 | <0.04 | NS | <0.04 |
| Peripheral insulin resistance | ||||||
| Fasting plasma glucose, mg/dL | 93.3±14 | 104.2±23.9 | 174.6±253 | NS | <0.01 | <0.0002 |
| Fasting plasma insulin, mg/dL | 5.7±1.6 | 12.87±7.0 | 14.55±7.1 | <0.0006 | NS | <0.00006 |
| HOMA-IR index | 1.34±0.54 | 3.35±2.1 | 6.58±12.9 | <0.0006 | NS | <0.0002 |
| CV risk factors | ||||||
| SABP, mm Hg | 113±12.5 | 128.8±14.5 | 129.6±18 | <0.006 | NS | <0.008 |
| DABP, mm Hg | 73±8.2 | 78.2±10.3 | 80.6±13.4 | NS | NS | <0.05 |
| C reactive protein | 1.96±2.9 | 4.2±3.9 | 3.5±2.9 | <0.04 | NS | NS |
| Leucocyte count (cells/mm3) | 7199±3255 | 8105±2169 | 8107±2174 | NS | NS | NS |
| Total cholesterol to (HDL-C) ratio | 3.74±1.24 | 3.3±1.17 | 4.43±1.8 | NS | NS | NS |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dL | 200±48.2 | 191±47.6 | 204.4±47.4 | NS | NS | NS |
| HDL-cholesterol, mg/dL | 58.8±14.9 | 52±14 | 48±9.7 | NS | NS | <0.02 |
| LDL-cholesterol, mg/dL | 117±39.7 | 117.2±37.9 | 123.1±34 | NS | NS | NS |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 152.4±112 | 113.1±45.1 | 179.8±111 | NS | <0.02 | NS |
| Uric acid, mg/dL | 3.58±1.46 | 5.3±1 | 5.1±1 | <0.03 | NS | <0.04 |
| Liver phenotype | ||||||
| ALT, U/L | 42.5±22.8 | 36.4±28.3 | 61.8±37.4 | NS | <0.0004 | NS |
| AST, U/L | 32±14.3 | 25±12 | 46.4±22.8 | NS | <0.00002 | <0.01 |
| GGT, U/L | 74.9±73 | 56.9±50 | 73.8±105 | NS | NS | NS |
| AP, U/L | 244.8±129 | 250±127 | 199.5±108 | NS | NS | NS |
| Histological features | ||||||
| Degree of steatosis, % | 0.0±0 | 55.7±25.5 | 55.6±23.5 | <0.000002 | <0.003 | <0.0004 |
| Lobular inflammation (0–3) | NA | 1.0±0.56 | 1.15±0.5 | – | NS | – |
| Portal inflammation (0–2) | NA | 0.0±0 | 1.27±0.7 | – | <0.003 | – |
| Hepatocellular ballooning (0–2) | NA | 0.0±0 | 0.96±0.6 | – | <0.000002 | – |
| Fibrosis stage | 0.0±0 | 0.0±0 | 1.45±1.3 | <0.0000001 | <0.00003 | <0.0000001 |
| NAS | NA | 3.1±1.21 | 5.63±1.3 | – | <0.02 | – |
The total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio was used as a measure of CVD risk. Results are expressed as mean±SD. *Indicates comparisons between SS and non-MetSyn-near normal liver subjects.
Stands for comparisons between NASH and SS.
Stands for comparisons between NASH and non-MetSyn-near normal liver. p Value stands for statistical significance using Mann–Whitney U test, except for female/male proportion where p value stands for statistical significance using χ2 test.
ALT and AST, serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase; AP, alkaline phosphatase; BMI, body mass index; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DABP, diastolic arterial blood pressure; GGT, γ-glutamyl-transferase; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MetSyn, metabolic syndrome; NA, not applicable; NAS, NAFLD activity score, NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NS, non-significant; SABP, systolic arterial blood pressure; SS, simple steatosis.