Genetic background in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A comprehensive review

Abstract

In the Western world, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as one of the most significant liver diseases of the twenty-first century. Its development is certainly driven by environmental factors, but it is also regulated by genetic background. The role of heritability has been widely demonstrated by several epidemiological, familial, and twin studies and case series, and likely reflects the wide inter-individual and inter-ethnic genetic variability in systemic metabolism and wound healing response processes. Consistent with this idea, genome-wide association studies have clearly identified Patatin-like phosholipase domain-containing 3 gene variant I148M as a major player in the development and progression of NAFLD. More recently, the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 E167K variant emerged as a relevant contributor in both NAFLD pathogenesis and cardiovascular outcomes. Furthermore, numerous case-control studies have been performed to elucidate the potential role of candidate genes in the pathogenesis and progression of fatty liver, although findings are sometimes contradictory. Accordingly, we performed a comprehensive literature search and review on the role of genetics in NAFLD. We emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the available literature and outline the putative role of each genetic variant in influencing susceptibility and/or progression of the disease.

Keywords: Candidate gene studies; Genetics; Genome-wide association studies; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3; Transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2.

Figure 1

Hematic overview of the main genetic variants potentially involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis susceptibility and progression. GWAS: Genome-wide association studies; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.