Relationship of SREBP-2 rs2228314 G>C polymorphism with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a Han Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at investigating the relationship of SREBP-2 rs2228314 G>C polymorphism with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a Han Chinese population.

METHOD

This case-control study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. Three-hundred subjects who met the diagnostic criteria of NAFLD and had typical clinical and ultrasonographic findings were placed in the case group. There were 160 matched healthy controls in the control group. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs2228314 G>C) in the SREBP-2 gene was tested. Genetic analyses were performed using genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied to detect SNP.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that the GG genotype and G carrier (CG+GG) of rs2228314 G>C polymorphism in the SREBP-2 gene were strongly associated with susceptibility to NAFLD (both p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of G allele between NAFLD patients and healthy controls (p=0.328). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GG genotype, G carrier, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl-transferase might be associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide evidence that the GG genotype and G carrier (CG+GG) of rs2228314 G>C polymorphism in the SREBP-2 gene may increase the risk of NAFLD.