Table 1

Baseline characteristics of study participants"

Figure 1

Schematic of UTMD preparation and intervention."

Table 2

Primer sequences"

Figure 2

PEG10 expression is increased in the MAFLD group, while miR-200a expression is decreased and negatively correlated with PEG10 mRNA levels. (A-B) Western blot detection of PEG10 protein expression; (C-D) Immunohistochemical detection of PEG10 expression; (E) qRT-PCR detection of miR-200a mRNA expression levels; (F) qRT-PCR detection of PEG10 mRNA expression levels; (G) Correlation analysis of miR-200a and PEG10 expression in liver tissues of MAFLD patients. *** denotes P < 0.001."

Figure 3

UTMD combined with the miR-200a/PEG10 signaling axis improves lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and inhibits apoptosis in MAFLD cells. (A) Oil Red O staining to detect lipid accumulation in each group; (B) qRT-PCR to detect miR-200a; (C) qRT-PCR to detect PEG10; (D) Electron microscopy to observe changes in mitochondrial morphology and structure within cells; (E) Dual-luciferase reporter assay to detect reporter gene expression levels; (F-G) Flow cytometry.* denotes P < 0.05, ** denotes P < 0.01, and *** denotes P < 0.001."

Figure 4

UTMD combined with miR-200a/PEG10 signaling axis reverses MAFLD autophagy inhibition. (A-F) WB detection of Beclin1, LC3B, P62, PINK1, and Parkin; (G-K) qRT-PCR detection of Beclin1, LC3B, P62, PINK1, and Parkin. * denotes P < 0.05, ** denotes P < 0.01, and *** denotes P < 0.001."

Figure 5

UTMD can deliver miR-200a mimics and siPEG10, ameliorate liver pathological damage in MAFLD mice, and reverse the autophagy inhibition state in MAFLD. (A) Liver tissue morphology; (B) Oil Red O staining of liver tissue; (C) Immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of PEG10 in the liver; (D-E) PEG10 protein expression was analyzed by WB; (F-G) qPCR detection of miR-200a and PEG10 mRNA expression levels; (H-M) Beclin1, LC3B, P62, PINK1, and Parkin protein expression was analyzed by WB; (N-R) qRT-PCR analysis of the relative mRNA expression levels of Beclin1, PINK1, P62, LC3B, Parkin was analyzed by qRT-PCR. * denotes P < 0.05, ** denotes P < 0.01, and *** denotes P < 0.001."

Figure 6

3-MA or Rapa reverses or promotes the effects of UTMD combined with the miR-200a/PEG10 signaling axis on lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis in MAFLD cells by influencing autophagy. (A-F) WB detection of the protein expression levels of Beclin1, LC3B, P62, PINK1, and Parkin in each group; (G-K) qPCR detection of the mRNA expression levels of Beclin1, LC3B, P62, PINK1, and Parkin in each group.* denotes P < 0.05, ** denotes P < 0.01, and *** denotes P < 0.001."

Figure 7

3-MA or Rapa reverses or promotes the effects of UTMD combined with the miR-200a/PEG10 signaling axis on MAFLD by influencing autophagy. (A-B) Apoptosis detected by flow cytometry; (C) qRT-PCR detection of PEG10; (D) qRT-PCR detection of miR-200a; (E) electron microscopy; (F) Oil Red O staining. * denotes P < 0.05, ** denotes P < 0.01, and *** denotes P < 0.001."