title: PNPLA3 polymorphisms (rs738409) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk and related phenotypes: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs738409 in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene (PNPLA3) has been implicated in susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) across different populations. One meta-analysis confirmed this association, but within it, only two Asian studies were included. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association in Asian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  All eligible case-control studies were identified by searching through PubMed and Chinese language databases (CNKI and WanFang) up to July 1, 2014. Pooled estimates (odds ratio [OR] and standardized mean difference) were used to assess the strength of associations in fixed or random-effects models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 studies with 4495 cases and 7431 controls were included. SNP rs738409 G allele was confirmed as a risk factor for NAFLD (G allele vs C allele: OR = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.54-2.39). In addition, based on studies with certain clinical measurements data, G allele carriers were more likely to have higher level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (standard mean difference [SMD] = 7.03, 95% CI: 2.47-11.60), and higher fibrosis score (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.18-0.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided evidence of SNP rs738409 G allele as a strong risk factor of NAFLD susceptibility and higher level of serum ALT in Asian population.
authors: Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Department of Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Long
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: You
authors: Hanze
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Peng
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Zhu
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Yao
authors: Xiangcheng
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Yebin
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Xuehao
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Liyong
authors: L
authors: Pu
authors: Jindao
authors: J
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005355:Fibrosis; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D000217:Acyltransferases; D054512:Phospholipases A2, Calcium-Independent
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D008049:Lipase; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C533682:PNPLA3 protein, human; D000217:Acyltransferases; D054512:Phospholipases A2, Calcium-Independent
keywords: ALT; Asian population; NAFLD; PNPLA3; meta-analysis