Association of nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase gene rs694539 variant with patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

• Published in: Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers Vol. 17; no. 11; p. 849
• Main Authors: Sazci, Ali, Ozel, Mavi Deniz, Ergul, Emel, Aygun, Cem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Liver - epidemiology; Fatty Liver - genetics; Female; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase - genetics; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1945-0257
• DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2013.0309

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal hepatic steatosis in the absence of a history of alcohol use and with a prevalence of 15%-45% in developed nations. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced stage of NAFLD with a pronounced major inflammatory component. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase (NNMT) gene rs694539 variant in the development of NASH. Therefore, we analyzed 80 NASH patients and 183 healthy controls using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method developed in our laboratory. The NNMT rs694539 variant was found to be significantly associated with NASH (χ(2)=9.349, p=0.009). The individuals with the GG genotype had protection against NASH (χ(2)=3.793, p=0.051, odds ratio [OR]=0.580, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.334-1.006), whereas the individuals with the AA genotype showed statistically significant increased risk for NASH (χ(2)=7.748, p=0.005, OR=7.338, 95% CI=1.448-37.190). Moreover, the G allele was protective against NASH (χ(2)=7.748, p=0.005, OR=0.136, and 95% CI=0.027-0.691). On the other hand, the A allele was a risk factor for NASH (χ(2)=3.793, p=0.051, OR=1.725, and 95% CI=0.994-2.996). Consequently, the rs694539 variant of NNMT gene is a genetic risk factor for developing NASH.