Serum CircCSPP1 is Correlated with the Occurrence and Severity of NAFLD in a Chinese Population

The relationship between serum circCSPP1, circNIPSNAP3A, or circRFX8 and the occurrence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has yet to be fully elucidated. A total of 494 participants were divided into NAFLD and control groups, and clinical data, including demographic, physiological and biochemical parameters, were collected. Serum levels of circCSPP1, circNIPSNAP3A, and circRFX8 were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, and the severity of NAFLD was assessed by ultrasonography and quantitative computed tomography. The NAFLD group exhibited significantly higher levels of serum circCSPP1 compared to the control group (p=0.04). CircCSPP1 is significantly and independently associated with NAFLD. Participants with high serum circCSPP1 levels (>66th percentile) had a greater prevalence of mild and advanced NAFLD, as well as higher triglyceride levels, compared to those with low circCSPP1 levels (<33rd percentile) (p<0.05 for all). No significant correlations were observed between circNIPSNAP3A or circRFX8 and the occurrence or severity of NAFLD. These findings suggest that serum circCSPP1 is associated with the occurrence and severity of NAFLD, potentially mediated by hypertriglyceridemia.