Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have pinpointed dozens of genetic regions linked to fatty liver disease, a condition in which triglycerides, a type of fat, accumulate in the liver. The team analysed genetic data and MRI scans from 71,488 people of European descent in the UK Biobank. The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics.
The study is described as the largest so far to examine the whole genome while measuring liver fat with MRI at the same time. Genetics is known to play a major role in the disease, but until recently scientists did not know which genes were involved.
Dozens of genetic regions tied to liver fat
The team identified 60 separate genetic regions connected to liver fat levels, and 31 of these had not been linked to the trait before. The study suggests that common genetic differences explain roughly 25% of the variation in liver fat among people.
Stefano Romeo, professor at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, said that nearly doubling the known regions gives “a clearer picture of the biological processes” behind the disease.
Likely genes and a genetic risk scale
Using several analytical methods, the researchers pointed to genes that probably contribute to fatty liver disease in 48 of the 60 regions. They also built a genetic risk scale from many genetic variants.
People with the highest scores on that scale were more likely to develop fatty liver disease and liver cancer than those with the lowest scores. The results suggest that inherited factors affecting fat buildup in the liver may also influence the risk of liver disease later in life.
Study limits and future research needs
The researchers noted that the study included only people of European descent. Larger studies involving more diverse populations are needed to determine whether the results apply to other groups. Future research should also confirm some of the newly identified genetic regions.
