Genetic and Epigenetic Modifiers of Alcoholic Liver Disease
General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pad. Granelli, via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123857
Received: 17 October 2018
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Revised: 31 October 2018
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Accepted: 28 November 2018
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Published: 3 December 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Related Pathologies)
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a disorder caused by excessive alcohol consumption is a global health issue. More than two billion people consume alcohol in the world and about 75 million are classified as having alcohol disorders. ALD embraces a wide spectrum of hepatic lesions including steatosis, alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ALD is a complex disease where environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors contribute to its pathogenesis and progression. The severity of alcohol-induced liver disease depends on the amount, method of usage and duration of alcohol consumption as well as on age, gender, presence of obesity, and genetic susceptibility. Genome-wide association studies and candidate gene studies have identified genetic modifiers of ALD that can be exploited as non-invasive biomarkers, but which do not completely explain the phenotypic variability. Indeed, ALD development and progression is also modulated by epigenetic factors. The premise of this review is to discuss the role of genetic variants and epigenetic modifications, with particular attention being paid to microRNAs, as pathogenic markers, risk predictors, and therapeutic targets in ALD.
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Keywords:
alcoholic liver disease; PNPLA3; TM6SF2; MBOAT7; microRNAs; epigenetics; intestinal permeability; tight junctions
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MDPI and ACS Style
Meroni, M.; Longo, M.; Rametta, R.; Dongiovanni, P. Genetic and Epigenetic Modifiers of Alcoholic Liver Disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 3857. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123857
AMA Style
Meroni M, Longo M, Rametta R, Dongiovanni P. Genetic and Epigenetic Modifiers of Alcoholic Liver Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018; 19(12):3857. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123857
Chicago/Turabian StyleMeroni, Marica, Miriam Longo, Raffaela Rametta, and Paola Dongiovanni. 2018. "Genetic and Epigenetic Modifiers of Alcoholic Liver Disease" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19, no. 12: 3857. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123857
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