The Association between DNA Methylation and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is among the most common liver diseases. Epigenetic factors are involved in the development of NAFLD. However, studies have shown inconsistent results. This study aims to review the association between DNA methylation and NAFLD. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Medline database (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Google scholar until the end of October 2021. All observational studies including cross-sectional, case-control, cohort and English-language human studies that assessed the effects of DNA methylation on NAFLD were included. Results: Among 787 studies, 12 articles were included in the systematic review. Most studies showed that lower levels of DNA methylation in specific genes lead to NAFLD promotion. Among all the NAFLD-associated genes which were identified in the included studies, transforming acidic coiled-coil 2 (TACC2), STE20 Related Adaptor Beta (STRADB), Carcinoembryonic AntigenRelated Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CEACAM1) and Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1 Beta (HNF1B), appear more frequently compared to other genes. Conclusion: Results indicated a negative correlation between methylation status and NAFLD development. The role of DNA methylation can be considered as a risk factor for NAFLD.