PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism and progressive liver disease.
The 148 Isoleucine to Methionine protein variant (I148M) of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3), a protein is expressed in the liver and is involved in lipid metabolism, has recently been identified as a major determinant of liver fat content. Several studies confirmed that the I148M variant predisposes towards the full spectrum of liver damage associated with fatty liver: from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis and progressive fibrosis. Furthermore, the I148M variant represents a major determinant of progression of alcohol related steatohepatitis to cirrhosis, and to influence fibrogenesis and related clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis C virus hepatitis, and possibly chronic hepatitis B virus hepatitis, hereditary hemochromatosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. All in all, studies suggest that the I148M polymorphism may represent a general modifier of fibrogenesis in liver diseases. Remarkably, the effect of the I148M variant on fibrosis was independent of that on hepatic steatosis and inflammation, suggesting that it may affect both the quantity and quality of hepatic lipids and the biology of non-parenchymal liver cells besides hepatocytes, directly promoting fibrogenesis. Therefore, PNPLA3 is a key player in liver disease progression. Assessment of the I148M polymorphism will possibly inform clinical practice in the future, whereas the determination of the effect of the 148M variant will reveal mechanisms involved in hepatic fibrogenesis.
Paola Dongiovanni, Benedetta Donati, Roberta Fares, Rosa Lombardi, Luca Valenti, Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Policlinico Milano, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy.
Paola
P
Dongiovanni
Benedetta
B
Donati
Roberta
R
Fares
Rosa
R
Lombardi
Rosellina Margherita
RM
Mancina
Stefano
S
Romeo
Luca
L
Valenti
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D000217:Acyltransferases; D054512:Phospholipases A2, Calcium-Independent
D008049:Lipase; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C533682:PNPLA3 protein, human; D000217:Acyltransferases; D054512:Phospholipases A2, Calcium-Independent
Alcoholic liver disease; Chronic hepatitis C virus hepatitis; Fibrogenesis; Genetics; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver disease; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Steatosis