Serum Extracellular Vesicles as Pathogenetic Signals in Obese and Lean Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Figures

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  Figure 1. A positive correlation was observed between serum EV particle concentration and mean particle size across all groups.

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  Figure 2. EV concentrations were significantly elevated in obese (p = 0.0013) and lean (p = 0.0008) MASLD patients relative to non-MASLD controls. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with significance indicated as follows: p < 0.01 (**), and p < 0.001 (***).

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  Figure 3. Age-stratified changes in serum EV concentration and size. (A) EV concentrations and (B) mean EV particle sizes were compared among three age groups in non-MASLD controls and both obese and lean MASLD patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with significance indicated as follows: p < 0.05 (*), p < 0.01 (**), and p < 0.001 (***).

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  Figure 4. The correlations between EVs and blood tests in non-MASLD and MASLD. The correlations between EV concentrations and blood test parameters: (A) TGs, (B) cholesterol, (C) LDL-c, and (D) HDL-c were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis in non-MASLD controls and all MASLD patients (combined obese and lean).

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  Figure 5. The correlations between EVs and blood tests in obese and lean MASLD. (A) EV concentrations and TG levels exhibited positive correlations in obese and lean MASLD patients. (B) The table shows the correlations between serum EVs (concentration and size) and blood tests (lipid and sugar) in obese and lean MASLD cohorts, respectively divided into three age groups. Spearman’s ρ values are shown, with the significance levels marked as follows: p < 0.05 (*), p < 0.01 (**), and p < 0.001 (***).

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  Figure 6. Western blot analysis of serum EV cargo proteins after IDGUC. Lean MASLD patients exhibited (A) elevated CD63 levels in serum EVs and (B) a reduced PLIN3/CD63 ratio compared with non-MASLD controls and obese MASLD patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with significance indicated as follows: p < 0.05 (*), p < 0.01 (**), and p < 0.001 (***).