Transcriptome profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells differentiate male adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from healthy peers

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study cohort, median (interquartile range)

Total (n = 30)	Control (n = 14)	NAFLD (n = 16)	P value
Age, years	15.09 (13.27-17.85)	15.97 (14.42-17.88)	0.1661
BMI (kg/m2)	20.91 (18.85-23.21)	31.14 (28.52-33.59)	< 0.0001a
BMI z-score	0.5950 (0.1350-1.080)	2.555 (2.295-2.955)	< 0.0001a
ALT (U/L)	13.00 (12.00-17.00)	43.00 (27.25-94.00)	< 0.0001a
AST (U/L)	15.00 (12.00-20.00)	32.00 (22.00-41.00)	0.0004a
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	0.6600 (0.5000-2.340)	0.6100 (0.4200-0.9100)	0.2866
GGTP (U/L)	21.50 (15.50-23.50)	30.50 (19.00-50.25)	0.1181
TC (mg/dL)	157.0 (133.0-171.0)	149.0 (139.8-179.0)	0.8366
LDL-C (mg/dL)	96.00 (63.60-107.5)	88.50 (71.25-97.00)	0.5315
HDL-C (mg/dL)	53.00 (49.00-54.00)	35.00 (31.50-40.00)	< 0.0001a
TG (mg/dL)	67.50 (58.50-86.50)	161.5 (100.5-239.0)	0.0005a
Glucose (mg/dL)	86.70 (84.05-88.15)	88.90 (82.90-94.10)	0.1846
Insulin (mU/mL)	12.80 (9.013-13.98)	13.87 (9.600-23.33)	0.2750
HOMA-IR	2.77 (1.870-2,975)	3.010 (2.190-5.470)	0.1995
Systolic pressure (mmHg)	121.0 (111.3-125.0)	120.0 (112.5-127.5)	0.9904
Diastolic pressure	67.00 (58.50-75.50)	70.00 (63.00-75.50)	0.5645
Urea (mg/dL)	26.90 (21.70-35.41)	22.50 (18.10-27.50)	0.3301
Ammonaemia (μmol/L)	61.20 (52.65-72.25)	495.4 (349.6-631.8)	< 0.0001a

^aP < 0.05, statistically significant differences.

NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; BMI: Body mass index; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; GGTP: Γ-glutamyltransferase; TC: Total cholesterol; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance.

Table 2 Two-factor interaction model analysis (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease × fecal extract stimulation)

Gene	Gene biotype	FC	padj value	P value
MIR3648-21	miRNA	61.89	6.17E-08	2.7E-12
MIR36871	miRNA	62.52	4.46E-05	3.9E-09
MIR3681	miRNA	107.30	7.33E-03	9.62E-07
RNA5-8SN5	rRNA	0.01	1.24E-02	2.17E-06
MIR3648-11	miRNA	31.67	1.94E-02	4.23E-06

¹Genes were overexpressed in fecal extract-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

FC: Fold change.