rs641738C>T near MBOAT7 promotes steatosis, NASH, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis

A common genetic variant near MBOAT7 (rs641738C>T) has been previously associated with hepatic fat and advanced histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), however, these findings have not been consistently replicated in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to establish whether rs641738 is a risk factor for NAFLD through meta-analysis. Data from 134,015 participants (7,692 with liver biopsies and 50,680 with imaging) was included in the meta-analysis. The minor T-allele of rs641738C>T was associated with higher liver fat on CT/MRI using an additive genetic model (+0.05 standard deviations [95% CI: 0.01 - 0.09], p=0.025), and with an increased risk of NAFLD (per-allele OR: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.01 - 1.15]), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (OR: 1.11 [95% CI: 1.02 - 1.21]), advanced fibrosis (OR: 1.14 [95% CI: 1.05 - 1.23]), and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.22 - 1.67]) in adults with NAFLD. Sub-group analysis did not demonstrate a difference in Caucasians and non-Caucasians. Rs641738C>T was not associated with markers of insulin resistance but was associated with higher risk of stroke in the UK Biobank. These data validate rs641738C>T near MBOAT7 as a risk factor for the development, activity, and stage of NAFLD including hepatocellular carcinoma.