Genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese people

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 914 - 921
• Main Authors: Wong, Vincent Wai-Sun, Wong, Grace Lai-Hung, Tsang, Steven Woon-Choi, Hui, Alex Yui, Chan, Anthony Wing-Hong, Choi, Paul Cheung-Lung, So, Wing-Yee, Tse, Ada Mei-Ling, Chan, Francis Ka-Leung, Sung, Joseph Jao-Yiu, Chan, Henry Lik-Yuen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.06.2008; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: adiponectin; Adiponectin - blood; Adiponectin - genetics; Adult; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; China - ethnology; Cohort Studies; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; fatty liver; Fatty Liver - diagnosis; Fatty Liver - ethnology; Fatty Liver - genetics; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; metabolic syndrome X; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multivariate Analysis; Other diseases. Semiology; Other metabolic disorders; Polymorphism, Genetic; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; China; Endocrinopathy; Diabetes mellitus; Cytokine; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Hepatic disease; Metabolic syndrome; Adiponectin; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Fatty liver; Non alcoholic steatohepatitis; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Genetics; metabolic syndrome X; Tumor necrosis factor α; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05344.x

Background and Aim:  Hypoadiponectinemia and high tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) levels are associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin and TNF‐α in Chinese NAFLD patients and their association with disease severity. Methods:  Seventy‐nine patients with histology‐proven NAFLD (61 with simple steatosis and 18 with stage 2–4 fibrosis) and 40 controls were tested for the nucleotide polymorphisms at adiponectin −11 391, −11 377, +45, and +276 and TNF‐α promoters −863, −308, and −238. Results:  There was no significant deviation in the adiponectin and TNF‐α gene polymorphisms between NAFLD patients and controls, or between patients with simple steatosis and those with stage 2–4 fibrosis. NAFLD patients with −11377G and +45G at the adiponectin gene were more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia. On multivariate analysis, older age, higher body mass index, and higher fasting glucose were independent factors associated with stage 2–4 fibrosis in NAFLD patients. Conclusions:  Adiponectin and TNF‐α gene polymorphisms were not shown to be associated with NAFLD or significant fibrosis in Chinese people. The adiponectin −11377G and +45G alleles were associated with hypertriglyceridemia in NAFLD patients. Since the current study is not adequately powered to detect smaller differences in allele frequencies, larger‐sized studies in different ethnic groups are required.