ABSTRACT
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases, along with steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and is associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Candidate gene and genome-wide association studies have validated the relationships between NAFLD, NASH, PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and HFE. The present study utilized five polymorphisms in three genes: PNPLA3 (I148M and K434E) TM6SF2 (E167K), and HFE (H63D and C282Y), based on undocumented case−control studies in the Saudi Arabian population. A total of 95 patients with NAFLD and 78 non-NAFLD subjects were recruited. Genomic DNA was isolated, and polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed using specific primers for the I148M, K434E, E167K, H63D, and C282Y. NAFLD subjects were older when compared to controls and showed the significant association (p = 0.0001). Non-significant association was found between gender (p = 0.26). However, both weight and BMI were found to be associated. Hardy−Weinberg equilibrium analysis confirmed that H63D, I148M, and K434E polymorphisms were associated. Genotype analysis showed only K434E variant was associated with NAFLD and non-NAFLD (OR-2.16; 95% CI: 1.08−4.31; p = 0.02). However, other polymorphisms performed with NAFLD and NASH were not associated (p > 0.05), and similar analysis was found when ANOVA was performed (p > 0.05). In conclusion, we confirmed that K434E polymorphism showed a positive association in the Saudi population.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the association between variation in genes related to lipid metabolism and the susceptibility of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Obese children with fatty liver aged 6~18 years old were included. All of them got ultrasonic testing, routine examination and biochemical detection. In addition, the DNA of peripheral blood was extracted and the 36 target genes related to lipid metabolism were detected by next generation sequencing. Results In 368 obese children who met the inclusion criteria, 183 children (49.7%) were detected to have NAFL . 100 children with NAFLD and 100 children without NAFLD were randomly selected from obese children. The levels of body mass, waistline, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triacylglycerol (TG), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in NAFLD children were all higher than those in non-NAFLD children, and there were significant differences (P all0.05). The levels of bilirubine in the two groups were within normal range. Logistic regression analysis showed that the genes of MTTP rs2306986 (OR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.38~5.27) and MTTP rs3792683 (OR=7.34, 95%CI: 2.04~26.50) that encode microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP or MTP), and the mutation of rs738409 (OR=2.11, 95%CI:1.31~4.48) in gene PNPLA3 that encode patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 are the independent risk factors for the occurrence of the disease. Conclusion Genovariation of MTTP rs2306986, MTTP rs3792683, and PNPLA3 rs738409 may increase susceptibility to NAFLD in children.