There is evidence to support the theory that genetic factors account for considerable variability in susceptibility to NAFLD. However, the data have not been well-documented. In this study, we explored the significance of the SNP at nine positions in seven candidate genes reported frequently in the literature on metabolic syndrome and NAFLD. Our results suggested that the majority of these SNP were closely associated with susceptibility to NAFLD. Some variations were

positively associated (increased Autophagy inhibitor concentration risk), such as TNF-α -238, adiponectin -45, leptin -2548, PPAR -161, PEMT -175. Some were negatively associated (decreased risk), such as adiponectin -276 and hepatic lipase -514. A few were not relevant, such as TNF-α -380 and PGC-1α -482. These results were strengthened using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Our study also showed that gene variations may affect the pathogenesis of NAFLD via blood cytokines (such as leptin, adiponectin, etc.) and insulin resistance pathways.18,19 To our knowledge, this is the first

systematic study to investigate genetic impacts on susceptibility to NAFLD. Our results regarding the TNF-α gene-308 G/A (not relevant) and the adiponectin gene -45 T/G (increased risk) were consistent with the findings in most literature on NAFLD.20–25 To our knowledge, the impacts of the PPAR, PGC and hepatic lipase genes on NAFLD susceptibility were

first studied by our group.18,19 There are insufficient published data for review of the other genes, such as leptin and PEMT. Interestingly, Fluorouracil cell line our findings that Ribociclib mw the adiponectin gene -276 G/T variant decreased the risk of NAFLD supported a previous report that some genetic variations such as the adiponectin gene promoter variant -11391 G/A could confer protection from metabolic syndrome.22 As there are inter-ethnic variations in genetic polymorphisms that may influence development of NAFLD, it is not surprising that the incidence of NAFLD was found to be different among regions. Comparing the SNP in the seven candidate genes of Chinese people in this study with those of other ethnic groups, we found that the majority of genetic variations of Chinese people were similar to those of Asia–Pacific people, but different to those of Caucasians. Taking TNF-α as an example, the rate of gene variant -380 G/A was 3.3% in healthy Chinese people in this study and 1.2–7.0% in people of Asia–Pacific regions, compared with 12.8–23.7% in Western people. The genotype of A/A did not exist in Asia–Pacific people, but it was found in 1.2–7.9% of Western people. The rates of -238 G/A were not as different between Asia–Pacific people (1.6–7.9%) and Western people (5.8–12.4%). Again, the AA genotype did not exist in Asia–Pacific people, in comparison to the 0.2–11.7% prevalence in Western people.