Genetic analysis can predict the risk of progression and deterioration of fatty liver
Mar 19, 2025
Using genetic analysis, the possibility of predicting the risk of progression and deterioration between provinces has been opened.
Fatty liver is a disease in which fat builds up in the liver. In most cases, it is not a big problem, but in some patients, progression to steatohepatitis can cause liver inflammation and damage to the hepatocytes. If such a process continues, the possibility of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer increases.
Therefore, it is important to accurately determine which stage the fatty liver is at, but there is a limitation that it is difficult to distinguish clearly with existing tests.
Han Sang-young, director of the Center for Liver at Centum General Hospital, said, "As the head of clinical research, we have identified genetic changes in the process of deteriorating fatty liver through joint research with Seoul National University, the National Cancer Center, Sookmyung Women's University, and Dong-A University teams."
The results of the study were published in the recent issue of renowned international journals (Clinical and Molecular Heptology and Heptology) and are expected to be important basic data for early diagnosis of fatty liver and development of customized treatments.
Han Sang-young and the research team discovered six genes (CAPG, HYAL3, WIPI1, TREM2, SPP1, and RNASE6) that can determine the possibility of worsening fatty liver in advance.
According to the study, these genes were characterized by activation as fatty liver disease progressed. The research team found that genetic testing can predict whether fatty liver will maintain simple fatty liver or worsen to steatohepatitis. In other words, the use of genetic testing opens the way for early screening of patients who are likely to develop into a risk stage and establishing a personalized treatment plan.
The research team also discovered the 'IFI16 gene', which plays an important role in the progression of fatty liver disease to a serious stage. According to the results of the study, the IFI16 gene tended to be modified and expression increased as steatohepatitis was severe. In particular, it was found that the IFI16 gene is linked to the 'PYCARD-CASP1' pathway and plays a key role in promoting the progression of fatty liver disease.
Therefore, targeting the IFI16 gene opens the possibility of developing new treatments that can inhibit the progression to steatohepatitis.
"It is of great significance in that it presents the possibility of more precise tracking at the genetic level of how fatty liver disease worsens," said Han Sang-young, head of the medical center. "We plan to continue researching for early diagnosis and the development of customized treatments in the future."
Meanwhile, fatty liver is an increasing disease not only in Korea but also around the world, and it is known to be particularly closely related to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Fatty liver is a disease in which fat builds up in the liver. In most cases, it is not a big problem, but in some patients, progression to steatohepatitis can cause liver inflammation and damage to the hepatocytes. If such a process continues, the possibility of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer increases.
Therefore, it is important to accurately determine which stage the fatty liver is at, but there is a limitation that it is difficult to distinguish clearly with existing tests.
Han Sang-young, director of the Center for Liver at Centum General Hospital, said, "As the head of clinical research, we have identified genetic changes in the process of deteriorating fatty liver through joint research with Seoul National University, the National Cancer Center, Sookmyung Women's University, and Dong-A University teams."
The results of the study were published in the recent issue of renowned international journals (Clinical and Molecular Heptology and Heptology) and are expected to be important basic data for early diagnosis of fatty liver and development of customized treatments.
Han Sang-young and the research team discovered six genes (CAPG, HYAL3, WIPI1, TREM2, SPP1, and RNASE6) that can determine the possibility of worsening fatty liver in advance.
According to the study, these genes were characterized by activation as fatty liver disease progressed. The research team found that genetic testing can predict whether fatty liver will maintain simple fatty liver or worsen to steatohepatitis. In other words, the use of genetic testing opens the way for early screening of patients who are likely to develop into a risk stage and establishing a personalized treatment plan.
The research team also discovered the 'IFI16 gene', which plays an important role in the progression of fatty liver disease to a serious stage. According to the results of the study, the IFI16 gene tended to be modified and expression increased as steatohepatitis was severe. In particular, it was found that the IFI16 gene is linked to the 'PYCARD-CASP1' pathway and plays a key role in promoting the progression of fatty liver disease.
Therefore, targeting the IFI16 gene opens the possibility of developing new treatments that can inhibit the progression to steatohepatitis.
"It is of great significance in that it presents the possibility of more precise tracking at the genetic level of how fatty liver disease worsens," said Han Sang-young, head of the medical center. "We plan to continue researching for early diagnosis and the development of customized treatments in the future."
Meanwhile, fatty liver is an increasing disease not only in Korea but also around the world, and it is known to be particularly closely related to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
