Association Between LYPLAL1 rs12137855 Polymorphism With Ultrasound-Defined Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Chinese Han Population

BACKGROUND: Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified that gene Lysophospholipase-like 1 (LYPLAL1) rs12137855 associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). No research has been performed regarding the association between LYPLAL1 and NAFLD in China. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the gene LYPLAL1 rs12137855 and NAFLD, and the effect on serum lipid profiles in a Chinese Han population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LYPLAL1 rs12137855 gene was genotyped in 184 patients with NAFLD and 114 healthy controls using sequencing and polymerase chain reaction analysis (PCR). We tested serum lipid profiles using biochemical methods. RESULTS: No significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of LYPLAL1 rs12137855 was found between the NAFLD group and the controls group (P > 0.05). Subjects with the variant LYPLAL1 rs12137855 CC genotype had a higher mean weight, body mass index (BMI) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed for the first time that LYPLAL1 gene is not associated with a risk of NAFLD development in the Chinese Han population. The variant carriers of overall subjects significantly increased weight, BMI and LDL.