Analysis of correlation between NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in this study.Eighty four cases of health examination personnel in Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital were included in the study randomly, and divided into NAFLD group(27cases) and normal control group(57cases) though liver ultrasound examination.Their general data (sex, height, weight), liver function, blood lipid, and blood glucose were analyzed.The level of NLRP3 in peripheral blood was analyzed by ELISA double antibody sandwich method.The relationship between NLRP3 and NAFLD was analyzed by Logistic regression. Results The prevalence of NAFLD was 32.1%(27/84). The levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and uric acid in NAFLD group were higher than those in normal control group (all P<0.01), while the level of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that in normal control group (P=0.023); the concentration of serum NLRP3 in NAFLD group was (5.1±1.8) μg/L, and that in normal control group was (3.9±1.4) μg/L.There was significant difference between the two groups (t=6.221, P=0.016). Logistic regression analysis showed that NLRP3 was a risk factor for NAFLD (OR=1.537, P=0.021). Conclusion The level of NLRP3 is up-regulated in the serum of NAFLD patients, which is related to the occurrence of NAFLD. Key words: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Inflammatory cytokine; Inflammasome