| 1. |
- Donati, Benedetta, et al.
(författare)
-
Telomerase reverse transcriptase germline mutations and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Cancer medicine. - : Wiley. - 2045-7634. ; 6:8, s. 1930-1940
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In an increasing proportion of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) are associated with familial liver diseases. The aim of this study was to examine telomere length and germline hTERT mutations as associated with NAFLD-HCC. In 40 patients with NAFLD-HCC, 45 with NAFLD-cirrhosis and 64 healthy controls, peripheral blood telomere length was evaluated by qRT-PCR and hTERT coding regions and intron-exon boundaries sequenced. We further analyzed 78 patients affected by primary liver cancer (NAFLD-PLC, 76 with HCC). Enrichment of rare coding mutations (allelic frequency <0.001) was evaluated by Burden test. Functional consequences were estimated in silico and by over-expressing protein variants in HEK-293 cells. We found that telomere length was reduced in individuals with NAFLD-HCC versus those with cirrhosis (P = 0.048) and healthy controls (P = 0.0006), independently of age and sex. We detected an enrichment of hTERT mutations in NAFLD-HCC, that was confirmed when we further considered a larger cohort of NAFLD-PLC, and was more marked in female patients (P = 0.03). No mutations were found in cirrhosis and local controls, and only one in 503 healthy Europeans from the 1000 Genomes Project (allelic frequency = 0.025 vs. <0.001; P = 0.0005). Mutations with predicted functional impact, including the frameshift Glu113Argfs*79 and missense Glu668Asp, cosegregated with liver disease in two families. Three patients carried missense mutations (Ala67Val in homozygosity, Pro193Leu and His296Pro in heterozygosity) in the N-terminal template-binding domain (P = 0.037 for specific enrichment). Besides Glu668Asp, the Ala67Val variant resulted in reduced intracellular protein levels. In conclusion, we detected an association between shorter telomeres in peripheral blood and rare germline hTERT mutations and NAFLD-HCC.
|
|
| 2. |
- Burza, Maria Antonella, 1980, et al.
(författare)
-
DEPDC5 variants increase fibrosis progression in Europeans with chronic HCV infection.
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1527-3350 .- 0270-9139. ; 63:2, s. 418-427
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, two genetic variants, DEPDC5 rs1012068 and MICA rs2596542, were associated with the onset of HCC in Asian subjects with chronic HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether DEPDC5 and MICA genetic variants were associated with liver disease progression in Europeans with chronic HCV infection. In a Northern Italian discovery cohort (n=477), neither DEPDC5 rs1012068 nor MICA rs2596542 were associated with HCC (n=150). However, DEPDC5 rs1012068 was independently associated with cirrhosis (n=300; p=0.049). The association of rs1012068 with moderate-severe fibrosis was confirmed in an independent cross-sectional German cohort (n=415; p=0.006). Furthermore, DEPDC5 rs1012068 predicted faster fibrosis progression in a prospective cohort (n=247; p=0.027). Next, we examined the distribution of non-synonymous DEPDC5 variants in the overall cross-sectional cohort (n=912). The presence of at least one variant increased the risk of moderate/severe fibrosis by 54% (p=0.040). To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the genetic association of DEPDC5 variants with fibrosis progression, we performed in vitro studies on immortalized hepatic stellate cells (LX-2). In these cells, down-regulation of DEPDC5 resulted in increased expression of β-catenin and production of its target matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), a secreted enzyme involved in fibrosis progression.
|
|
| 3. |
- Donati, Benedetta, et al.
(författare)
-
The rs2294918 E434K variant modulates PNPLA3 expression and liver damage.
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1527-3350 .- 0270-9139. ; 63:3, s. 787-798
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism (I148M) is a major determinant of hepatic fat and predisposes to the full spectrum of liver damage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim of this study was to evaluate whether additional PNPLA3 coding variants contribute to NAFLD susceptibility, first in individuals with contrasting phenotypes (with early onset NAFLD vs. very low aminotransferases), and then in a large validation cohort. Rare PNPLA3 variants were not detected by sequencing coding regions and intron-exon boundaries either in 142 patients with early-onset NAFLD, nor in 100 healthy individuals with ALT <22/20 IU/ml. Besides rs738409 I148M, the rs2294918 G>A polymorphism (E434K sequence variant) was over-represented in NAFLD (adjusted p=0.01). In 1447 subjects with and without NAFLD, the 148M-434E (p<0.0001), but not the 148M-434K haplotype (p>0.9), was associated with histological NAFLD and steatohepatitis. Both the I148M (p=0.0002) and E434K variants (p=0.044) were associated with serum ALT levels, by interacting each other, in that the 434K hampered the association with liver damage of the 148M allele (p=0.006). The E434K variant did not affect PNPLA3 enzymatic activity, but carriers of the rs2294918 A allele (434K) displayed lower hepatic PNPLA3 mRNA and protein levels (p<0.05).
|
|
| 4. |
- Dongiovanni, Paola, et al.
(författare)
-
PCSK7 gene variation bridges atherogenic dyslipidemia with hepatic inflammation in NAFLD patients.
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of lipid research. - 1539-7262. ; 60:June, s. 1144-1153
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dyslipidemia and altered iron metabolism are typical features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 7 (PCSK7) gene variation has been associated with circulating lipids and liver damage during iron overload. Aim of this study was to examine the impact of the PCSK7 rs236918 variant on NAFLD-related traits in 1,801 individuals from the Liver Biopsy Cohort (LBC), 500,000 from the UK Biobank Cohort (UKBBC), and 4,580 from the Dallas Heart Study (DHS). The minor PCSK7 rs236918 C allele was associated with higher triglycerides, aminotransferases and hepatic inflammation in the LBC (p<0.05) and with hypercholesterolemia and liver disease in the UKBBC. In the DHS, PCSK7 missense variants were associated with circulating lipids. PCSK7 was expressed in hepatocytes and its hepatic expression correlated with that of lipogenic genes (p<0.05). The rs236918 C allele was associated with upregulation of a new 'intra-PCSK7' lnc-RNA predicted to interact with the protein, higher hepatic and circulating PCSK7 protein (p<0.01), and the latter correlated with triglycerides (p=0.04). In HepG2, PCSK7 deletion reduced lipogenesis, fat accumulation, inflammation, TGFB pathway activation and fibrogenesis. In conclusion, PCSK7 gene variation is associated with dyslipidemia and more severe liver disease in high risk individuals, likely by modulating PCSK7 expression/activity.
|
|
| 5. |
- Dongiovanni, Paola, et al.
(författare)
-
Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3B gene variation protects against hepatic fat accumulation and fibrosis in individuals at high risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Hepatology communications. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 2471-254X. ; 2:6, s. 666-675
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of liver damage and has a strong genetic component. The rs4841132 G>A variant, modulating the expression of protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3B (PPP1R3B), which is involved in glycogen synthesis, has been reported to reduce the risk of NAFLD but at the same time may favor liver disease by facilitating glycogen accumulation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of rs4841132 on development of histologic steatosis and fibrosis in 1,388 European individuals in a liver biopsy cohort, on NAFLD hepatocellular carcinoma in a cross-sectional Italian cohort (n = 132 cases), and on liver disease at the population level in the United Kingdom Biobank cohort. We investigated the underlying mechanism by examining the impact of the variant on gene expression profiles. In the liver biopsy cohort, the rs4841132 minor A allele was associated with protection against steatosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-0.95; P = 0.03) and clinically significant fibrosis (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.87; P = 0.02) and with reduced circulating cholesterol (P = 0.02). This translated into protection against hepatocellular carcinoma development (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07-0.70; P = 0.01). At the population level, the rs4841132 variation was not associated with nonalcoholic or nonviral diseases of the liver but was associated with lower cholesterol (P = 1.7 × 10-8). In individuals with obesity, the A allele protecting against steatosis was associated with increased PPP1R3B messenger RNA expression and activation of lipid oxidation and with down-regulation of pathways related to lipid metabolism, inflammation, and cell cycle. Conclusion: The rs4841132 A allele is associated with protection against hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in individuals at high risk of NAFLD but not in the general population and against dyslipidemia. The mechanism may be related to modulation of PPP1R3B expression and hepatic lipid metabolism. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:666-675).
|
|
| 6. |
- Dongiovanni, Paola, et al.
(författare)
-
Statin use and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in at risk individuals.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of hepatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1600-0641 .- 0168-8278. ; 63:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Excess hepatic free cholesterol contributes to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and statins reduce cholesterol synthesis. Aim of this study was to assess whether statin use is associated with histological liver damage related to steatohepatitis.
|
|
| 7. |
- Hyysalo, Jenni, et al.
(författare)
-
A population-based study on the prevalence of NASH using scores validated against liver histology.
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Hepatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-8278. ; 60:4, s. 839-846
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries. Diagnosis of NASH requires a liver biopsy. We estimated the prevalence of NASH non-invasively in a population-based study using scores validated against liver histology.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Mancina, Rosellina Margherita, et al.
(författare)
-
The MBOAT7-TMC4 Variant rs641738 Increases Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Individuals of European Descent.
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Gastroenterology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1528-0012 .- 0016-5085. ; 150:5, s. 1219-1230
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver damage and is characterized by steatosis. Genetic factors increase risk for progressive NAFLD. A genome-wide association study showed that the rs641738 C>T variant in the locus that contains the membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 7 gene (MBOAT7, also called LPIAT1) and transmembrane channel-like 4 gene (TMC4) increased the risk for cirrhosis in alcohol abusers. We investigated whether the MBOAT7-TMC4 is a susceptibility locus for the development and progression of NAFLD.
|
|
