title: Genetic, metabolic and environmental factors involved in the development of liver cirrhosis in Mexico.
abstract: Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a chronic illness caused by inflammatory responses and progressive fibrosis. Globally, the most common causes of chronic liver disease include persistent alcohol abuse, followed by viral hepatitis infections and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, regardless of the etiological factors, the susceptibility and degree of liver damage may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms that are associated with distinct ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Consequently, metabolic genes are influenced by variable environmental lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical inactivity, and emotional stress, which are associated with regional differences among populations. This Topic Highlight will focus on the genetic and environmental factors that may influence the metabolism of alcohol and nutrients in the setting of distinct etiologies of liver disease. The interaction between genes and environment in the current-day admixed population, Mestizo and Native Mexican, will be described. Additionally, genes involved in immune regulation, insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress and extracellular matrix deposition may modulate the degree of severity. In conclusion, LC is a complex disease. The onset, progression, and clinical outcome of LC among the Mexican population are influenced by specific genetic and environmental factors. Among these are an admixed genome with a heterogenic distribution of European, Amerindian and African ancestry; a high score of alcohol consumption; viral infections; a hepatopathogenic diet; and a high prevalence of obesity. The variance in risk factors among populations suggests that intervention strategies directed towards the prevention and management of LC should be tailored according to such population-based features.
authors.affiliation: Omar Ramos-Lopez, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Sonia Roman, Nora A Fierro, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and Health Sciences Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ramos-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Omar Ramos-Lopez, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Sonia Roman, Nora A Fierro, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and Health Sciences Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinez-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Omar Ramos-Lopez, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Sonia Roman, Nora A Fierro, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and Health Sciences Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.affiliation: Omar Ramos-Lopez, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Sonia Roman, Nora A Fierro, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and Health Sciences Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nora A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Fierro
authors.affiliation: Omar Ramos-Lopez, Erika Martinez-Lopez, Sonia Roman, Nora A Fierro, Arturo Panduro, Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and Health Sciences Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panduro
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000235:genetics; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Genomic medicine; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Obesity; Polymorphisms; Risk factors; Viral hepatitis