title: Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Coronary Atherosclerosis in the Chinese Han Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in various populations. However, whether LEPR polymorphisms are associated with the risks of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary atherosclerosis in the Chinese Han population remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of LEPR polymorphisms at Q223R and K109R with the risks of NAFLD and coronary atherosclerosis in the Chinese Han population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotypes of LEPR Q223R and K109R were determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing in patients with NAFLD (n = 554), coronary atherosclerosis (n = 421), and healthy controls (n = 550). Serum lipid profiles were determined using biochemical methods. Pearson's χ(2) test was used to check for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and to analyze the distributions of genotypes' alleles between groups. Baseline characteristics were analyzed using student's t-test, paired-samples t-test, or the χ(2) test where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LEPR Q223R A allele significantly reduced the risks of both NAFLD and coronary atherosclerosis (OR = 0.683, 95% CI: 0.527 - 0.884, P = 0.004 and OR = 0.724, 95% CI: 0.548 - 0.955, P = 0.022, respectively). Compared to controls, no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of K109R were found in the NAFLD and coronary atherosclerosis populations, respectively. However, there was a significantly increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis in NAFLD patients who carried the K109R A allele (OR = 2.283, 95% CI: 1.556 - 3.348, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LEPR Q223R polymorphisms may confer a significant risk of NAFLD and coronary atherosclerosis. The A allele in the K109R polymorphism might be considered an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis in NAFLD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal College, Nanjing Medical University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Bai-Quan
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Key Laboratory of Qingdao, Qingdao, China; Central Laboratories, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal College, Nanjing Medical University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal College, Nanjing Medical University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Digestive Disease Key Laboratory of Qingdao, Qingdao, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal College, Nanjing Medical University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Digestive Disease Key Laboratory of Qingdao, Qingdao, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Xuan
keywords: Coronary Atherosclerosis; LEPR; Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Single Nucleotide Polymorphism