Correlation between PPAR-α methylation level in peripheral blood and atherosclerosis of NAFLD patients with DM

We investigated the correlation between the methylation levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) in the peripheral blood and atherosclerosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 50 normal subjects (group N) and 50 NAFLD patients with DM (group M) were selected at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in groups N and M were detected. The mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR-alpha in groups N and M were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence. The differences in expression of PPAR-alpha in group N and M and the correlation between PPAR-alpha methylation level and atherosclerosis were analyzed using SPSS17.0 statistical software. TC, TG, HDL and LDL in groups N and M were significantly different (P<0.01). Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the histopathological damage was severe in group M. PCR and immunofluorescence showed that PPAR-alpha was significantly higher in N than in group M (P<0.01). The abnormal expression of PPAR-alpha is closely related to atherosclerosis, indicating that the correlation between PPAR-alpha methylation levels in peripheral blood and atherosclerosis of NAFLD patients with DM can provide a new direction of diagnosis and treatment.