Effect of MTTP -493G/T, I128T, Q95H and Q244E polymorphisms on hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis.

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C is characterized by a progressive deterioration of liver function and is involved in metabolic complications, such as hepatic steatosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of host and viral characteristics associated with -493G/T (rs1800591), I128T (rs3816873), Q95H (rs61733139), and Q244E (rs17599091) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTTP) gene on hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

SNPs were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and analyzed in combination with host and viral characteristics by multiple logistic regression in different genetic models of inheritance.

RESULTS

The authors analyzed 236 patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 53% had hepatic steatosis. The mutated allele frequencies were > 5%, and the genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p ≥ 0.05). It was observed that patients with HCV genotype 3 infection (OR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.24‒6.06, p = 0.013), female sex (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.21‒4.28, p = 0.011) and moderate- and high-intensity liver inflammatory activity (A2-A3) (OR = 3.61, 95% CI 1.86‒7.01, p < 0.001) alone exhibited a higher risk of steatosis. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis for interaction showed that for the -493G/T SNP, when the GT/TT genotype (dominant model) and the GT genotype (codominant model) were each combined with HCV genotype 3 infection, an 11.51-fold (95% CI 2.08‒63.59, p = 0.005) and a 15.69-fold (95% CI 2.46‒99.85, p = 0.004) increased risk of steatosis, respectively, was observed. For the I128T SNP, when both the IT/TT genotype (dominant model) and the IT genotype (codominant model) were combined with HCV genotype 3 infection, an 8.51-fold (95% CI 1.59‒45.54, p = 0.012) and an 8.40 fold (95% CI 1.51‒46.91, p = 0.015) increased risk of steatosis, respectively, was observed.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that the viral genotype combined with the -493G/T and I128T SNPs in the MTTP gene influences hepatic steatosis.