MTP -493G/T gene polymorphism is associated with steatosis in hepatitis C-infected patients

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 72 - 77
• Main Authors: Siqueira, E.R.F., Oliveira, C.P.M.S., Correa-Giannella, M.L., Stefano, J.T., Cavaleiro, A.M., Fortes, M.A.H.Z., Muniz, M.T.C., Silva, F.S., Pereira, L.M.M.B., Carrilho, F.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.01.2012; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Adult; Alcoholic beverages; Autoimmune diseases; BIOLOGY; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Disease Progression; Fatty liver; Fatty Liver - genetics; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Fatty Liver - pathology; Female; Fibrosis; Gene polymorphism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Hemochromatosis; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C, Chronic - genetics; Hepatitis C, Chronic - metabolism; Hepatitis C, Chronic - pathology; Humans; Male; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Microsomal transfer protein; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Promoters; Regression analysis; Short Communication; Steatosis; Transcription; Wilson's disease; Microsomal transfer protein; Hepatitis C; Fibrosis; Steatosis
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 0100-879X; 1414-431X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2011007500160

The reduction of hepatic microsomal transfer protein (MTP) activity results in fatty liver, worsening hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The G allele of the MTP gene promoter, -493G/T, has been associated with lower transcriptional activity than the T allele. We investigated this association with metabolic and histological variables in patients with CHC. A total of 174 untreated patients with CHC were genotyped for MTP -493G/T by direct sequencing using PCR. All patients were negative for markers of Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis and autoimmune diseases and had current and past daily alcohol intake lower than 100 g/week. The sample distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Among subjects with genotype 1, 56.8% of the patients with fibrosis grade 3+4 presented at least one G allele versus 34.3% of the patients with fibrosis grade 1+2 (OR = 1.8; 95%CI = 1.3-2.3). Logistic regression analysis with steatosis as the dependent variable identified genotypes GG+GT as independent protective factors against steatosis (OR = 0.4, 95%CI = 0.2-0.8; P = 0.01). The results suggest that the presence of the G allele of MTP -493G/T associated with lower hepatic MTP expression protects against steatosis in our CHC patients.