Study of fatty liver phenotype and liver fibrosis in the course of NAFLD

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10624
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Ibusuki Rie 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 助教 (90747015)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 嶽崎 俊郎 鹿児島大学, 鹿児島大学病院, 特任教授 (50227013)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: NAFLD / 肝線維化 / PNPLA3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study was conducted to clarify environmental and host factors involved in fatty liver phenotype and liver fibrosis (degree of progression) in NAFLD in the general population, focusing on the course of fatty liver development, persistence, and resolution. The subjects were 4,909 men and women aged 35-69 years who underwent abdominal ultrasonography during health examinations. 4,909 men and women aged 35-69 years were included in the cross-sectional study on the interaction between host and environmental factors in NAFLD liver fibrosis, using PNPLA3 gene polymorphisms involved in NAFLD/NASH development and liver fibrosis. The results showed an interaction between PNPLA3 polymorphisms and hypertension and dyslipidemia in NAFLD liver fibrosis.

Free Research Field

分子疫学、栄養疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

非アルコール性脂肪性肝疾患（NAFLD）の一部は、非アルコール性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）から線維化が進行して肝硬変、肝がんに進展することで、肝線維化は病態の上で重要な役割を有している。NAFLDの肝線維化には遺伝子多型（SNPs）による感受性も関与し、PNPLA3は、GWASにおいて肝線維化との関連が報告されているが、環境要因とこれら宿主要因との相互作用に関する報告は限られている。本研究における肝線維化に関わる遺伝子多型と環境要因についての解明は、進展例のスクリーニングや予防において重要であり、一次予防対策を講じるうえで個別化予防においても有用な、新規のエビデンスを提示した。