title: A new risk factor for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: HLA complex genes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have emphasized the role of genetic factors in susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this study was to examine the possible influence of human leukocyte antigen in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2000 and January 2008, data of 655 donor candidates were examined from routinely performed abdominal ultrasonography and for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatic functions, and human leukocyte antigen class I and II antigens; data of 116 healthy candidates were also included in this study. To reduce the influence of possible confounding factors, we excluded diseases known to be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease like obesity, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed in 66 individuals (33 male, median age: 53.8 [range, 32-77 years]) by means of ultrasonography data, and 50 individuals, whose ultrasonography data did not show hepatosteatosis, comprised the control group (20 male, median age: 44.6 [range, 26-71 years]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human leukocyte antigen-B65 (28.8% vs 0%, p<0.001) and DQ5 (40.7% vs 16.1%, p<0.05) were found to be expressed significantly more in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared with controls. Serum alanine aminotransferase (27.1 IU/L vs 20 IU/L, p<0.05) was significantly higher in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary study suggests that human leukocyte antigen plays a role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, more studies are needed to clarify these data.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Gastroenteroloji Bilim Dalı Talas / Kayseri, Turkey. drcelikbilek@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celıkbılek
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Selçuk
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000502:physiology*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000502:physiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase