Study On The Correlation Between Non - Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Related Gene Polymorphism And Atherosclerosis

Objectives: To evaluate the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)-related gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis(CAS) in Chinese patients with NAFLD.Methods: The study population included a total of 439 B-type ultrasonography proven NAFLD patients with(N=192) and without(N=247) CAS. Five NAFLD-related gene polymorphisms(PNPLA3 rs738409, NCAN rs2228603, LYPLAL1 rs12137855, GCKR rs780094, PPP1R3 B rs4240624) were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Carotid artery duplex ultrasonography was used to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software, version 20.0 for Mac.Results: We found a significant difference in genotypic distributions in PNPLA3 rs738409 and GCKR rs780094 between the NAFLD patients with and without CAS(all P < 0.05). Carriers of G allele of PNPLA3 as well as GCKR T allele significant increased the risk of CAS in NAFLD patient(OR, 1.801, 95%CI, 1.372-2.365, P < 0.001; OR, 1.538, 95%CI, 1.175-2.015, P=0.002, respectively). Compared with the non-carriers, carriers of variant allele(PNPLA3 rs738409 G) showed statistically higher ALT, TG, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels(all p < 0.05) in NAFLD patients. In GCKR rs780094, carriers of T allele exhibited higher ALT and TG levels than those with non-carriers in NAFLD patients(all p < 0.05)Conclusions: In the Chinese Han population that we studied, NAFLD patients who carry the PNPLA3 G allele and GCKR T allele have an increased risk of developing CAS. Mechanisms underlying this potentially important association require further investigation.