Genetic studies to identify hepatic fibrosis genes and SNPs in human populations.
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.
Day
Christopher Paul
CP
School of Clinical Medical Sciences (Hepatology), University of Newcastle and Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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