Apolipoprotein C3 gene polymorphisms in Southern Indian patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Aim Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world today. A previous study has suggested an association of apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) gene variants with the risk of NAFLD in Asian Indian men living in the Western regions. The present study was carried out with an aim to evaluate the association of demographic features, serum lipid profile and APOC3 gene variants (C-482T and T-455C) NAFLD.

Methods One hundred and fifty NAFLD patients and 150 age and gender-matched controls were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to detect the genotypes of APOC3. Serum lipid profile was analyzed.

Results In the present study, body mass index was not a predictive demographic marker for NAFLD. Serum triglycerides were higher in patients (mean 155.95 ± 59.0) with NAFLD compared to the control group (mean 133.75 ± 44.71) (p = 0.016). APOC3 gene polymorphism T-455C (rs2854116) was significantly associated with NAFLD (p = 0.001). However, we did not find a significant association of C-482T polymorphism (rs2854117) of APOC3 gene with NAFLD. Genotype -455C/C of the SNP, rs2854116 associated significantly with the elevated serum triglycerides in patients.

Conclusions The polymorphism T-455C in APOC3 gene and elevated serum triglycerides were associated with NAFLD.