Prospective Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2014; 20(38): 14010-14017
Published online Oct 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i38.14010
Apolipoprotein C3 (-455T>C) polymorphism confers susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Southern Han Chinese population
Min-Rui Li, Sheng-Hong Zhang, Kang Chao, Xian-Hua Liao, Jia-Yan Yao, Min-Hu Chen, Bi-Hui Zhong
Min-Rui Li, Sheng-Hong Zhang, Kang Chao, Xian-Hua Liao, Jia-Yan Yao, Min-Hu Chen, Bi-Hui Zhong, Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Li MR and Zhang SH contributed equally to this work; Li MR and Zhang SH designed the research; Li MR, Chao K, Liao XH and Yao JY performed the research; Li MR and Zhang SH contributed to the statistical analyses and wrote the paper; Zhong BH and Chen MH revised the paper.
Supported by Natural Scientific Foundation of Guangdong Province, No. S2012040007685; Doctoral Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China, No. 20120171120090; and National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81301769 and No. 81170392
Correspondence to: Bi-Hui Zhong, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China. sophiazhong@medmail.com.cn
Telephone: +86-20-87755766 Fax: +86-20-87332916
Received: February 26, 2014
Revised: April 18, 2014
Accepted: May 29, 2014
Published online: October 14, 2014
Processing time: 242 Days and 4.5 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the relationship between Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) (-455T>C) polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the Southern Chinese Han population.

METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, we recruited 300 NAFLD patients and 300 healthy controls to a cohort representing Southern Chinese Han population at The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, from January to December 2012. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing were used to genotype the APOC3 (-455T>C) variants.

RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, and body-mass index, TC and CC genotypes were found to increase the susceptibility to NAFLD compared to the TT genotype, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.77 (95%CI: 1.16-2.72) and 2.80 (95%CI: 1.64-4.79), respectively. Further stratification analysis indicated that carriers of the CC genotype was more susceptible to insulin resistance (IR) than those of the TT genotype, with an OR of 3.24 (95%CI: 1.52-6.92). The CC genotype also was associated with a significantly higher risk of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (P < 0.05). No association was found between the APOC3 (-455T>C) polymorphism and obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, or high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: APOC3 (-455T>C) genetic variation is involved in the susceptibility to developing NAFLD, IR, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL in the Southern Chinese Han population.

Keywords: Apolipoprotein C3; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Insulin resistance; Metabolic disorder; Polymorphism

Core tip: This study represents the first study to investigate the relationship between the Apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) (-455T>C) polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) susceptibility in the Southern Chinese Han population. After adjusting for age, gender, and body-mass index, we found that APOC3 (-455T>C) genetic variation was involved in the susceptibility to developing NAFLD, insulin resistance, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the additive genetic model, carriers of variant-type homozygote CC showed the highest susceptibility to the above disorders, followed by carriers of heterozygote TC and wild-type homozygote TT.