title: Genetic studies to identify hepatic fibrosis genes and SNPs in human populations.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that non-sex-linked genetic factors play a role in determining both susceptibility to, and progression of, liver fibrosis. The elucidation of these factors will have many potential benefits in the management of patients with chronic liver disease. A variety of approaches can be used to look for genetic factors playing a role in liver fibrosis. In the future, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scanning of cases and controls may become feasible; however, to date, studies have relied on candidate-gene, case-control, allele-association methodology. This section will focus on the design and interpretation of case-control association studies in liver disease using non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to illustrate the key issues and potential pitfalls of this approach.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medical Sciences (Hepatology), University of Newcastle and Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher Paul
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D016678:Genome; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015854:Up-Regulation