The paraoxonase () gene family (including PON1, PON2, and PON3), is known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, protecting against metabolic diseases such as obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this study, the influence of common and rare variants on both conditions was investigated. A total of 507 healthy weight individuals and 744 patients with obesity including 433 with histological liver assessment, were sequenced with single-molecule molecular inversion probes (smMIPs), allowing the identification of genetic contributions to obesity and MASLD-related liver features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a growing epidemic with an estimated prevalence of 20%-30% in Europe and the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The onset and progression of MASLD are orchestrated by an interplay of the metabolic environment with genetic and epigenetic factors. Emerging evidence suggests altered DNA methylation pattern as a major determinant of MASLD pathogenesis coinciding with progressive DNA hypermethylation and gene silencing of the liver-specific nuclear receptor PPARα, a key regulator of lipid metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecently, it was reported that heterozygous PCSK1 variants, causing partial PC1/3 deficiency, result in a significant increased risk for obesity. This effect was almost exclusively generated by the rare p.Y181H (rs145592525, GRCh38.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The multifactorial nature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease cannot be explained solely by genetic factors. Recent evidence revealed that DNA methylation changes take place at proximal promoters within susceptibility genes. This emphasizes the need for integrating multiple data types to provide a better understanding of the disease's pathogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSirtuins 1 and 2 (SIRT1/2) are two NAD-dependent deacetylases with major roles in inflammation. In addition to deacetylating histones and other proteins, SIRT1/2-mediated regulation is coupled with other epigenetic enzymes. Here, we investigate the links between SIRT1/2 activity and DNA methylation in macrophage differentiation due to their relevance in myeloid cells.
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