[Correlation between serum NLRP3 levels and serum lipids in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease before and after a single high-fat meal].

<b>Objective:</b> To investigate the correlation between serum NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) levels and serum lipids in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) before and after a single high-fat meal. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Sixty-three MAFLD patients (MAFLD group) and fifty-four healthy subjects (CON group) recruited from February 2019 to December 2019 at Hebei Provincial People's Hospital were included. The baseline data were compared between the two groups, and a single high-fat meal trial was conducted. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and NLRP3 were measured at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h after fasting and a high-fat meal. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of area under the operating curve (AUC_NLRP3) of serum NLRP3 subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between serum AUC_NLRP3 and the risk of MAFLD. <b>Results:</b> The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and NLRP3 were significantly higher in the fasting group than the CON group at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h after a meal [TC (mmol/L), fasting: (5.29±1.01) <i>vs</i>. (4.28±0.62), 2 h: (5.24±0.98) <i>vs</i>. (4.25±0.62), 4 h: (5.38±1.04) <i>vs</i>. (4.26±0.63), 6 h: (5.54±1.07) <i>vs</i>. (4.41±0.65); TG (mmol/L), fasting: (2.67±0.96) <i>vs</i>. (0.92±0.33), 2 h: (3.91±1.35) <i>vs</i>. (1.69±0.59), 4 h: (5.09±1.7) <i>vs</i>. (1.91±0.93), 6 h: (5.36±2.27) <i>vs</i>. (1.75±1.03); LDL-C (mmol/L), fasting: (3.47±0.74) <i>vs</i>. (2.65±0.49), 2 h: (3.36±0.71) <i>vs</i>. (2.58±0.49), 4 h: (3.30±0.71) <i>vs</i>. (2.55±0.47), 6 h: (3.36±0.74) <i>vs</i>. (2.63±0.48); NLRP3 (ng/L), fasting: (84.63±12.96) <i>vs</i>. (56.71±11.37), 2 h: (106.06±17.76) <i>vs</i>. (69.12±14.92), 4 h: (89.78±15.98) <i>vs</i>. (57.74±12.34), 6 h: (80.03±13.61) <i>vs</i>. (54.06±10.35); <i>P</i><0.001], while the HDL-C level was significantly lower than the CON group [HDL-C (mmol/L), fasting: (1.14±0.24) <i>vs</i>. (1.33±0.29), 2 h: (1.14±0.24) <i>vs</i>. (1.33±0.29), 4 h: (1.09±0.24) <i>vs</i>. (1.27±0.28), and 6 h: (1.05±0.26) <i>vs</i>. (1.29±0.30); <i>P<</i>0.001]. Serum AUC_NLRP3 was significantly correlated with AUC_TG and AUC_LDL-C (AUC_TG: <i>B</i>=7.391, 95%<i>CI</i>:5.662-9.12; AUC_LDL-C: <i>B</i>=6.559, 95%<i>CI</i>:3.052-10.065; <i>P</i><0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors, and it was identified as an independent influencing factor for MAFLD (<i>OR</i>=1.039, 95%<i>CI</i>:1.007-1.071;<i>P</i>=0.015). <b>Conclusion:</b> The serum NLRP3 levels before and after a single high-fat meal are significantly associated with elevated TG and LDL-C levels, and may influence the progression of MAFLD.