title: Lack of effect of apolipoprotein C3 polymorphisms on indices of liver steatosis, lipid profile and insulin resistance in obese Southern Europeans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) is a component of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and APOC3 rs2854116 and rs2854117 polymorphisms have been associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertriglyceridaemia, and insulin-resistance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the APOC3 variants alter the susceptibility of obese subjects to develop liver damage, hypertrigliceridaemia, and insulin-resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 585 unrelated obese Italians (median body mass index BMI = 41 kg/m2) who were genotyped for the rs2854116 and rs2854117 variants. All participants underwent oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), with measurement of glucose, insulin, lipid parameters. Indices of insulin-resistance (HOMA and ISI) were calculated. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were used as markers of liver injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study subjects were divided into two groups: those homozygous for the wild-type alleles at both SNPs (-482C and -455T alleles) and those who were carriers of at least one variant allele or both (-482T, -455C or both). Also each SNP was analysed independently. No significant differences were found in ALT and AST levels and in the lipid profile between the two groups. Insulin concentrations, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were similar in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not identify any significant association between APOC3 polymorphisms and fatty liver disease, lipids, and insulin-resistance in obese subjects, thus not confirming the suggested role of these APOC3 gene sequence variants.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sentinelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maglio
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Incani
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burza
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scano
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coccia
authors.forename: Efisio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: Marco G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Baroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III / Q000235:genetics*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D007558:Italy; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III; D008055:Lipids