Detection of genes involved in fatty liver disease

US scientists have discovered five human gene variants, including four new gene variants, linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

This is the result of a study published in the March issue of PLoS Genetics .

NAFLD is a form of fat that accumulates in the liver (fatty liver) and can lead to permanent hepatitis or liver damage.The disease affects about 11-45% of the population and is associated with symptoms of obesity, high blood pressure and problems with coordination of lipid or glucose serum.

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Dr. Elizabeth K. Speliotes, director of the study, said: " These findings will help us better diagnose, control and treat NAFLD in the future ."

Dr. Speliotes and colleagues at the University of Michigan collected and analyzed data related to fatty liver at 7,126 people and monitored gene variants associated with the disease, not alcohol.

"We found that approximately one-fourth of the variation in NAFLD is affected by genetic factors, and the locations we identified in this study account for about 20% of that genetic factor. The effect of these variants on NAFLD is significant and can be incorporated into future clinical algorithms to better classify patients into risk groups , "the scientists said.

Dr. Speliotes notes that identifying genetic variations and ultimately genes affecting NAFLD will open new directions in developing new treatments for the disease.

Currently, new forms of weight loss and strengthening physical activities are used to reduce fat in the liver. This study may create a breakthrough in the application of new drugs that interfere with NAFLD treatment.

Fatty liver can be a consequence of many diseases, including alcohol consumption, metabolic diseases, drug use and nutritional disorders. There are many mechanisms that cause fatty liver status, one of the most common mechanisms is due to reduced fatty acid oxidation, often due to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Most cases of fatty liver have no symptoms. They are often detected by abnormal liver enlargement symptoms seen during routine health checks, or through blood or alkaline phophatase aminotransferase indicators shown in routine tests.