Lack of association between microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene polymorphism and liver steatosis in HCV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
It has been shown that the HCV-core protein reduces the activity of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and could lead to steatosis in HCV-infected patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of a functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the MTP gene (493G/T) on the development of HCV-related steatosis.


METHODS
Eighty-six chronic hepatitis C patients were studied to assess: the effects of body mass index, age, HCV genotype, and 493G/T MTP polymorphism on steatosis.


RESULTS
Steatosis was observed in 39 patients (45.3%). The 493G/T MTP polymorphism were not related to the development of steatosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The functional G/T MTP polymorphism do not seem to play any role in the development of steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Petit
Jean Michel
JM
Laboratoire INSERM Unité 498, CHU du Bocage, BP 77908, 21079 Dijon cedex, France. jean-michel.petit@chu-dijon.fr
Masson
David
D
Minello
Anne
A
Duvillard
Laurence
L
Galland
Francoise
F
Verges
Bruno
B
Gambert
Philippe
P
Hillon
Patrick
P
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C106092:microsomal triglyceride transfer protein