The genetics of NAFLD

NAFLD is a disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis, through steatohepatitis to fibrosis and, ultimately, cirrhosis. This condition is characterized by considerable interpatient variability in terms of severity and rate of progression: although a substantial proportion of the population is at risk of progressive disease, only a minority experience associated morbidity. As such, NAFLD is best considered a complex disease trait resulting from environmental exposures acting on a susceptible polygenic background and comprising multiple independent modifiers. Much ongoing research is focused on identifying the genetic factors that contribute to NAFLD pathogenesis. This Review describes the current status of the field, discussing specific genetic and epigenetic modifiers, including the mechanisms through which genes identified by genome-wide association studies, including PNPLA3, influence disease progression.