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Study shows hepatic steatosis, fibrosis as heritable traits
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VIENNA — Hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis emerged as heritable traits in a prospective twin study presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress. Additionally, data showed significant shared gene effects between these traits and metabolic traits.
“Utilizing a novel twin-study design, this cross sectional analysis of a prospective study using innovative application of advanced MRI confirms that hepatic steatosis is a heritable trait and provides novel data that hepatic fibrosis is a heritable trait,” Rohit Loomba, MD, from the NAFLD Translational Research Unit, University of California San Diego, said during his presentation. “Shared gene effects between metabolic traits and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were explored.”
Rohit Loomba
Loomba presented data on 96 monozygotic and dizygotic twins recruited from January 2012 to October 2014 and used accurate and robust quantitative, non-invasive biomarkers by quantifying fat and steatosis via MRI proton-density-fat-fraction and quantifying hepatic fibrosis via magnetic resonance elastography.
After analysis, the heritability estimate of liver fat was 0.67 (P < 1.1 x 10-15).
“In our 35 monozygotic twin pairs, correlation is 0.77, pretty high correlation. … in the dizygotic twin pairs, there is no correlation,” Loomba said. Similarly, the heritability estimate of hepatic fibrosis was 0.66 (P < 9.7 x 10-14).
Hepatic steatosis shared gene effects with BMI (0.71; 95% CI, 0.61-0.74) and serum insulin (0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-0.86).
“Obesity, higher BMI share about 70% of share gene effects with hepatic steatosis,” Loomba said.
Hepatic fibrosis shared about 50% of genes with HbA1c (0.54; 95% CI, 0.2-1), he added.
“Further studies are underway to determine what proportion of heritability is explained by PNPLA3 genotype and what genes may be associated with hepatic fibrosis,” Loomba said. – by Katrina Altersitz
For More Information:
Loomba R. Abstract O040. Presented at: International Liver Congress; April 22-26, 2015; Vienna.
Disclosure: Loomba reports no relevant financial relationships.