Genetics
CETP variant rs1800777 A allele linked to milder liver damage in fatty liver disease (Ann Nutr Metab 2018)
Original title: Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Variant (RS1800777) with Liver Histology in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients
Among 90 patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, researchers studied whether the CETP gene polymorphism rs1800777 relates to liver histology and biochemistry. Eighty-three patients carried the wild-type GG genotype, while 7 carried the A allele (GA). Carriers of the A allele showed significantly lower alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels than GG carriers, and were significantly less likely to have lobular inflammation (odds ratio 0.18) or steatosis (odds ratio 0.13) on biopsy. The findings indicate this CETP variant is independently associated with milder liver histology in fatty liver disease.
Original abstract
Introduction And Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of diseases ranging from simple steatosis without inflammation or fibrosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and in the Western countries has become one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases related to metabolic and lipid alterations. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) participates in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol metabolism. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of polymorphism (rs1800777) of CETP gene on liver histological changes, biochemical parameters, and serum adipokines levels in patients with NAFLD.
Material And Methods: A population of 90 patients with NAFLD was recruited in a cross-sectional study. A biochemical analysis (glucose, c-reactive protein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides blood, and adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and resistin) was realized. Genotype of polymorphism (rs1800777) of CETP gene was studied.
Results: Eighty-three patients (92.2%) had the genotype GG (wild type group) and 7 patients (7.8%) had the genotype GA (n = 7) or AA (n = 0; mutant type group). Patients with A allele show significant decrease in liver biochemistry parameters - Alanine amino transferase (delta 10.1 ± 9.9 UI/L; p = 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase activity (delta 13.3 ± 9.5 UI/L; p = 0.02), and gammaglutamine transferase levels (delta 39 ± 30.1 UI/L; p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that subjects with A-allele carriers were associated with a decreased risk of lobulillar inflammation (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.95, p = 0.04) and a decreased risk of steatosis (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.02-0.89, p = 0.04).
Conclusions: A variant of the polymorphism rs1800777 of CETP gene is independently associated with the presence of steatosis and lobulillar inflammation in subjects with proven biopsy NAFLD.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.