Activated cGAS-STING signaling promotes malignancy in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease via mitochondrial DNA and immune cell dysfunction

Table 1 Serum biochemistry parameters and hepatocellular carcinoma markers during metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease progression, mean ± SD

Group	NC (n = 12)	MAFLD (n = 12)	MASH (n = 17)	LC (n = 15)	HCC (n = 10)
ALT (U/L)	11.5 ± 2.0	48.9 ± 12.8c	53.6 ± 10.1c	51.4 ± 16.1c	52.5 ± 18.4c
AST (U/L)	12.3 ± 2.8	42.5 ± 13.6c	45.6 ± 11.2c	53.6 ± 12.4c	56.1 ± 16.8c
TG (mmol/L)	0.58 ± 0.53	1.92 ± 0.36c	1.98 ± 0.58c	1.89 ± 0.68c	1.57 ± 0.85b
Tch (mmol/L)	1.38 ± 0.39	2.92 ± 0.89c	3.97 ± 0.82c	3.69 ± 0.61c	3.62 ± 0.80c
HDL (mmol/L)	2.20 ± 0.42	0.67 ± 0.20c	0.65 ± 0.09c	0.75 ± 0.09c	0.63 ± 0.05c
LDL (mmol/L)	0.31 ± 0.08	1.64 ± 0.54c	1.25 ± 0.1c	0.99 ± 0.25c	0.89 ± 0.68b
AFP (μg/L)	0.85 ± 0.11	1.12 ± 0.31	1.25 ± 0.32a	1.58 ± 0.51b	1.96 ± 0.75c
Wnt3a (μg/L)	1.21 ± 0.23	1.45 ± 1.68	2.25 ± 2.24	6.28 ± 2.12c	9.98 ± 5.62c

^aP < 0.05 vs the normal control (NC) group.

^bP < 0.01 vs the NC group.

^cP < 0.001 vs the NC group.

NC: Normal control; MAFLD: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease; MASH: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis; LC: Liver cirrhosis; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; TG: Triglycerides; Tch: Total cholesterol; HDL: High-density lipoprotein; LDL: Low-density lipoprotein; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; Wnt3a: Key signaling molecule 3a of the Wnt pathway.