Polymorphism's MBOAT7 as Risk and MTARC1 as Protection for Liver Fibrosis in MASLD

Previous large-scale genetic studies identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7) and patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) genes as risk factors for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, this has not yet been investigated in Brazilian patients. In this study, we evaluated the association between the PNPLA3 variant rs738409 and MBOAT7 variant rs641738 and the risk of hepatic fibrosis or liver cirrhosis in MASLD etiology. In parallel, we also aimed to evaluate a protective SNP of the mitochondrial amidoxime-reducing component 1 (MTARC1) gene. We also evaluated TM6SF2 rs58542926, GCKR rs1260326 and rs780094, and HSD17B13 rs72613567 and they were not associated with liver fibrosis. The study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), and included 113 patients with liver fibrosis (F0-F1), 99 patients with significant liver fibrosis (F2-F4), and 90 controls. SNPs were genotyped by quantitative PCR, using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Overall, the PNPLA3 GG genotype was more frequent in F2-F4 (23%) and F0-F1 (22%) patients than in controls (9%; p = 0.02). The MBOAT7 TT genotype was significantly associated with fibrosis, with a prevalence of 23% in F2-F4 patients versus 10% in F0-F1 and 11% in controls (p = 0.01). This association was confirmed by regression analysis (OR = 5.01 95% CI: 1.86-13.49; p = 1.41 × 10^-3). The protective MTARC1 AA genotypes were more frequent in controls (52%) when compared to patients with fibrosis (5% p = 2.76 × 10^-20).