Genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese people.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoadiponectinemia and high tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels are associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and TNF-alpha in Chinese NAFLD patients and their association with disease severity.


METHODS
Seventy-nine patients with histology-proven NAFLD (61 with simple steatosis and 18 with stage 2-4 fibrosis) and 40 controls were tested for the nucleotide polymorphisms at adiponectin -11 391, -11 377, +45, and +276 and TNF-alpha promoters -863, -308, and -238.


RESULTS
There was no significant deviation in the adiponectin and TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms between NAFLD patients and controls, or between patients with simple steatosis and those with stage 2-4 fibrosis. NAFLD patients with -11377G and +45G at the adiponectin gene were more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia. On multivariate analysis, older age, higher body mass index, and higher fasting glucose were independent factors associated with stage 2-4 fibrosis in NAFLD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Adiponectin and TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms were not shown to be associated with NAFLD or significant fibrosis in Chinese people. The adiponectin -11377G and +45G alleles were associated with hypertriglyceridemia in NAFLD patients. Since the current study is not adequately powered to detect smaller differences in allele frequencies, larger-sized studies in different ethnic groups are required.
Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong Kong.
Vincent Wai-Sun
VW
Wong
Grace Lai-Hung
GL
Wong
Steven Woon-Choi
SW
Tsang
Alex Yui
AY
Hui
Anthony Wing-Hong
AW
Chan
Paul Cheung-Lung
PC
Choi
Wing-Yee
WY
So
Ada Mei-Ling
AM
Tse
Francis Ka-Leung
FK
Chan
Joseph Jao-Yiu
JJ
Sung
Henry Lik-Yuen
HL
Chan
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D052242:Adiponectin; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha