PNPLA3 I148M variant and hepatocellular carcinoma: A common genetic variant for a rare disease

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly associated with chronic liver disease. The rs738409 genetic variant in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3, adiponutrin) gene has been implicated as a genetic determinant of the entire spectrum of liver diseases, ranging from steatosis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and ultimately to HCC. In this review, first we will examine the current genetic theories of disease susceptibility. Next, we will analyze the evidences for the association between PNPLA3 I148M variant and HCC. Moreover, we will exploit this association to propose a new paradigm in human genetics: a common genetic variant contributing to a rare disease. Finally, we will examine the molecular genetics of PNPLA3 and, specifically, the theories that have been proposed to explain the function of PNPLA3 in health and disease. (C) 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Human genetics

Patatin-like phospholipase domain

containing 3

fatty liver-disease

greater-than-g

histological severity

adiponutrin

gene

family-members

polymorphism

association

expression

obesity

deficiency

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)