Encyclopedia
patatin like phospholipase domain containing 3
- genes
1. Introduction
The PNPLA3 gene provides instructions for making a protein called adiponutrin, which is found in fat cells (adipocytes) and liver cells (hepatocytes). The liver is a part of the digestive system that helps break down food, store energy, and remove waste products, including toxins. The function of the adiponutrin protein is not well understood, but it is thought to help regulate the development of adipocytes and the production and breakdown of fats (lipogenesis and lipolysis) in hepatocytes and adipocytes. Studies indicate that the activity (expression) of the PNPLA3 gene decreases during periods without food (fasting) and increases after eating, suggesting that the amount of adiponutrin protein produced is regulated as needed to help process and store fats in the diet.
2. Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
2.1. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
A particular variation in the PNPLA3 gene has been associated with an increased risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a buildup of excessive fat in the liver that can lead to liver damage resembling the damage caused by alcohol abuse, but that occurs in people who do not drink heavily. In some cases NAFLD leads to inflammation of the liver (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, also known as NASH) and permanent liver damage (cirrhosis).
The PNPLA3 gene variation associated with NAFLD changes the protein building block (amino acid) isoleucine to the amino acid methionine at protein position 148, written as Ile148Met or I148M. Research suggests that the altered protein leads to increased production and decreased breakdown of fats in the liver. Studies are ongoing to determine how this and other genetic changes contribute to the development of NAFLD and its complications.
2.2. Other disorders
The I148M variation of the PNPLA3 gene has also been associated with the worsening of other liver diseases, such as a viral infection called hepatitis C. The variation also increases the risk of liver damage in people with alcoholism. The mechanism of this effect is not well understood, but the altered protein appears to increase fibrosis of the liver in people with these conditions.
3. Other Names for This Gene
- acylglycerol O-acyltransferase
- adiponutrin
- ADPN
- C22orf20
- calcium-independent phospholipase A2-epsilon
- dJ796I17.1
- FLJ22012
- iPLA(2)epsilon
- iPLA2-epsilon
- iPLA2epsilon
- patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pnpla3
References
- Baulande S, Lasnier F, Lucas M, Pairault J. Adiponutrin, a transmembraneprotein corresponding to a novel dietary- and obesity-linked mRNA specificallyexpressed in the adipose lineage. J Biol Chem. 2001 Sep 7;276(36):33336-44.
- Caligiuri A, Gentilini A, Marra F. Molecular Pathogenesis of NASH. Int J MolSci. 2016 Sep 20;17(9). pii: E1575. Review.
- Chen LZ, Xin YN, Geng N, Jiang M, Zhang DD, Xuan SY. PNPLA3 I148M variant innonalcoholic fatty liver disease: demographic and ethnic characteristics and the role of the variant in nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jan 21;21(3):794-802. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i3.794. Review.
- Dongiovanni P, Donati B, Fares R, Lombardi R, Mancina RM, Romeo S, Valenti L. PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism and progressive liver disease. World J Gastroenterol.2013 Nov 7;19(41):6969-78. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i41.6969. Review.
- Krawczyk M, Portincasa P, Lammert F. PNPLA3-associated steatohepatitis: towarda gene-based classification of fatty liver disease. Semin Liver Dis. 2013Nov;33(4):369-79. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1358525.
- Romeo S, Kozlitina J, Xing C, Pertsemlidis A, Cox D, Pennacchio LA, BoerwinkleE, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. Genetic variation in PNPLA3 confers susceptibility tononalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nat Genet. 2008 Dec;40(12):1461-5. doi:10.1038/ng.257.
- Severson TJ, Besur S, Bonkovsky HL. Genetic factors that affect nonalcoholicfatty liver disease: A systematic clinical review. World J Gastroenterol. 2016Aug 7;22(29):6742-56. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i29.6742. Review.
- Yu J, Marsh S, Hu J, Feng W, Wu C. The Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic FattyLiver Disease: Interplay between Diet, Gut Microbiota, and Genetic Background.Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2016;2016:2862173. doi: 10.1155/2016/2862173.
